Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for May, 2010

Week In Review

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , , on May 28, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

It was a week of welcoming at 1303 San Antonio Street. Four summer interns were hired this week and everyone is excited to to have them on board, particularly me as it gets pretty quiet in this place when there aren’t interns running around and being told what to do, or is it just me [...]

Read Full Post »

Don’t Forget the Memorial Day “Energy Star” Sales Tax Holiday

Posted in Efficiency, Energy, tagged , on May 28, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

If you buy an Energy Star appliance this Memorial Day weekend you won’t have to pay a sales tax  The third annual Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday is this weekend and Texans can lower their utility bills and conserve energy with more energy efficient appliances – TAX FREE! Look for the Energy Star label on [...]

Read Full Post »

Memorial Day Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday!!

Posted in Consumers, Efficiency, Energy, tagged , , , , , , on May 27, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

I’ve told my parents and now I’m telling you. ¡Si se compran una lavadora o un aire condicionado marcado Energy Star este weekend, no tienen que pagar sales taxes! If you buy an Energy Star appliance this Memorial Day weekend you won’t have to pay a sales tax! Representative Veronica Gonzalez announced the third annual [...]

Read Full Post »

Cap Metro’s debut at the Sunset Commission

Posted in Consumers, Efficiency, Energy, Global Warming, Good Government, Renewables, Transportation, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 26, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Cap Metro’s hearing at the Sunset Advisory Commission on Tuesday wasn’t the public flogging many might have expected, given the mass transit authority’s myriad problems over the past several years. It came as a shock to no one as Sunset staff delivered testimony that centered on the financial crisis the transit authority faces. Several commissioners, [...]

Read Full Post »

EPA taking over permitting of Texas facilities: TCEQ’s permitting process doesn’t follow Clean Air Act

Posted in Toxics, tagged , , , , , on May 26, 2010 | 1 Comment »

The other shoe has finally dropped. Back in September 2009, we let you know how the EPA had issued rulings that condemned TCEQ’s air quality permitting practices. And today, the EPA stopped asking nicely and took some action. From the Houston Chronicle: Objecting to how Texas regulates air pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said [...]

Read Full Post »

Texans Written Out of the Process by Supreme Court of Texas Rule Changes

Posted in Good Government, tagged , , on May 26, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Take a look at this op-ed submitted by Public Citizen, EDF, and Sierra Club as commented upon by Burnt Orange Report File under “hugely important issue to everyday Texans that most of us know nothing about.” Three prominent pro-citizen activists have been working hard to draw attention to a proposed rule change by the Supreme [...]

Read Full Post »

Ramming Nuclear Power Subsidies Into War Appropriations Bill Is Inappropriate and Should Be Blocked

Posted in Energy, Nuclear, tagged on May 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

A Deal is Struck to Add $9 Billion in Risky Nuclear Loan Guarantees for Failing South Texas Nuclear Project.    In a deal between the Obama administration and House of Representatives leadership, struck last week behind closed doors, taxpayers would be on the hook for lending $9 billion to build two new nuclear reactors at the South [...]

Read Full Post »

New study shows jobs from Kerry-Lieberman mostly in Nukes, CCS

Posted in Energy, Global Warming, green jobs, Nuclear, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 21, 2010 | 4 Comments »

One point we often forget when debating climate change strategies is the major economic case for changing our economy to new, clean technology.  A new study has been released on the impacts of the Kerry-Lieberman bill, which we’ve never been so hot on, but it shows that despite what the chicken littles at the Chamber [...]

Read Full Post »

Week in Review

Posted in Coal, Consumers, Efficiency, Energy, Global Warming, Good Government, green jobs, Nuclear, Renewables, solar, tagged , , , , , on May 21, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Busy, busy, busy. Public Citizen staff have been making the rounds this week, traveling all over Texas in order to educate, empower, and organize citizens. From Beaumont to Dallas. From tar sands to the Public Utility Commission, we are working to protect the economic and environmental well-being of all Texans. The Week in Review:

Read Full Post »

Participate in the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission’s Review of the PUC

Posted in Efficiency, Energy, Global Warming, Renewables, solar, tagged , , , , , on May 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

In 1977, the Texas Legislature created the Sunset Advisory Commission to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies. The 12-member Commission is a legislative body that reviews the policies and programs of more than 150 government agencies every 12 years. The Commission questions the need for each agency, looks for potential duplication [...]

Read Full Post »

ERCOT Chair Steps Down Citing Personal Reasons

Posted in Energy, tagged , on May 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) just announced board of directors’ chair, Jan Newton, has resigned citing personal reasons.  Ms. Newton served on the ERCOT board since 2006 and became the chair in 2008. Her resignation is the second major departure from ERCOT in the past eight months. In September of 2009, CEO Bob Kahn submitted [...]

Read Full Post »

Portland, TX Asks TCEQ to Deny Las Brisas Permit

Posted in Coal, tagged , , , on May 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Portland, Texas’ City Council members voted yesterday on a resolution to unanimously to support a State Office of Administrative Hearings’ judicial recommendation that an air permit sought for Las Brisas petroleum-coke fired power plant be denied or reviewed further. Portland’s council has long-standing tradition of staying out of Corpus Christi and Nueces County matters, but [...]

Read Full Post »

Proposed Rules Could Allow Disconnections for Some Critical Care Customers

Posted in Consumers, tagged , , , , , on May 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

The Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) is considering proposed rules changes that will in many ways improve consumer protection, but contains some provisions that could allow retail electric providers (REP) to disconnect medically vulnerable customers who rely on electricity to sustain their lives.  Other rules being considered could make it impossible for a consumer who [...]

Read Full Post »

Tar Sands May be Coming to Texas

Posted in Global Warming on May 17, 2010 | 1 Comment »

The U.S. Department of State will be hosting public hearings this week, May 17-20th in Beaumont, Liberty, Livingston, and Tyler on the proposed tar sands pipeline. Canadian oil and gas giant TransCanada needs U.S. Department of State approval in order to expand the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast. The public hearings [...]

Read Full Post »

Arkansas Supreme Court Rules Against Turk Coal Plant

Posted in Coal, Efficiency, Energy, Global Warming, tagged , , on May 13, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Upholding a state court ruling made last year that found the hearing process was not conducted propery, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled against the Turk coal-fired power plant in Southwest Arkansas.  This is great news for the People of Arkansas, surrounding states, and the planet in general. Perhaps SWEPCO will take this as a hint that [...]

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 32 other followers