Submitted by Tyson Broad on
Last week, the San Antonio City Council unanimously voted to move forward with the Vista Ridge Project that plans to bring 50,000 acre-feet of groundwater from Burleson County to the city. Because of our many concerns with this project, the vote was a disappointment, but last Thursday’s Council deliberation did stir some positives worth discussing.
[Original post: James Osborne, Dallas Morning News, November 8, 2014]
Oncor, which runs Texas’ largest power line network, is willing to bet battery technology is ready for wide-scale deployment across the grid. In a move that stands to radically shift the dynamics of the industry, Oncor is set to announce Monday that it is prepared to invest more than $2 billion to store electricity in thousands of batteries across North and West Texas beginning in 2018.
[Original post: TPWD Press Release, Nov 6, 2014]
The Texas State Park system’s more than 90 sites have a significant economic impact on the state’s economy, generating $774 million in retail sales annually, contributing $351 million in economic benefits and creating 5,800 jobs statewide. Those were just part of the findings of a recent Texas A&M University study shared with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today.
Submitted by Matt Johnson on
Without a doubt, the best environmental news from Tuesday's election in Texas was the City of Denton voting to ban new fracking in the city. The proposition passed by roughly 17%, with 58.64% voting yes and 41.36% voting no. Predictably, however, almost immediately after the vote, pro-fracking interests moved to try to stop it in what marks the next great battle in the struggle over a city's right to protect its citizens.
Submitted by Matt Johnson on
Residents in Denton, a town situated on top of the lucrative geological formation known as the Barnett Shale, will decide on Tuesday whether to ban new fracking within their city. The ban would be the first of its kind in Texas and a big challenge to the status quo in a state where oil and gas are still king. Many eyes are on Denton this week in anticipation of the outcome of this exciting election.
Submitted by Matt Johnson on
The Energy Storage Association (ESA) is hosting the first ever Texas Energy Storage Summit, in Austin, TX on December 5, 2014. This unique one-day summit brings together stakeholders from across Texas and around the country to meet for an informative and collaborative event that brings and in-depth focus on the opportunities and markets available in Texas and the ERCOT system. Attendees will have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with Texas and ERCOT regulators, as well as utility partners and customers, to gain a full understanding of this market opportunity and what lies ahead for storage in the state.
Submitted by Matt Johnson on
Conservation Director Cyrus Reed will moderate a panel at this year's CATEE Conference (Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency) in Dallas, Nov 18-20. CATEE is a premiere educational conference and business exhibition connecting public and private decision makers and thought leaders. Its purpose is to help communities improve decisions that determine the energy and water intensity of the built environment – and reduce related emissions. Learn more about Cyrus' panel after the jump.
