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Archive for August, 2011

ERCOT calls for energy conservation this weekend

Posted in Efficiency, Global Warming, Utilities, tagged , , , , , , , on August 26, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Its predicted that the entire state will have record temperatures this weekend. Please take all measures to avoid using unnecessary energy. They might have a hurricane on the east coast but we have a heat wave in Texas and there might not be enough electricity to go around. Statement from ERCOT CEO Trip Doggett on [...]

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Earthquake and hurricane, the east coast is starting the Fall with a bang.

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , on August 23, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Earlier today I got on a scheduled phone call with some of the staff in our D.C. office just after they had come back into their building after evacuating during the 5.8 magnitude Virginia earthquake that rattled buildings and nerves all the way to New York City.  They, of course, had more immediate concerns but [...]

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HOT HOT HOT! Austin breaks heat record today as arguments inexplicably continue about climate change

Posted in Climate Change, Global Warming, tagged , , on August 23, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Today Austin’s temps will soar back into the 100′s for our 69th day this year of over 100 degrees. This  will break a record that has stood since 1925 for the most days over 100 degrees, as we begin another round of heat advisories lasting through the weekend of 100+ degree weather. Since we’re going [...]

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TCEQ begins process to enact Sunset legislation

Posted in Air Quality, Sunset, TCEQ, tagged , , , on August 22, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

TCEQ will soon be making some big decisions on how to implement reforms passed during the last legislative session, especially on its penalty policy–and your input is needed quickly: Comments are due on August 30th Last session, Public Citizen worked with a partnership, The Alliance for a Clean Texas (ACT), and thanks to the efforts of [...]

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SPIN BABY SPIN – Renewables continue to grow in Texas

Posted in Energy, Renewables, solar, tagged , , , , , , on August 19, 2011 | 2 Comments »

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the operators of the Texas electric grid, has released its Emerging technologies report that includes the state of renewables on the Texas grid. Some interesting facts show that wind generation continues to provide a significant amount of energy to the grid as the technology matures, new turbines are [...]

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Pipelines trump your property rights.

Posted in Tarsands, tagged , , , , on August 19, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Energy companies are increasingly suing South Texas landowners as they work to build pipelines to accommodate surging oil and gas production. The question isn’t whether a company can route a pipeline across a property owner’s land.  Pipeline companies, under Texas law, wield the power of eminent domain and can use it to acquire an easement [...]

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Strange but true tale from the world of Texas politics

Posted in Campaign Finance, tagged , on August 19, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Leave it to Texans for Public Justice to bring us another strange but true tale from the world of Texas lobbyists. A well known Texas lobbyist was recently caught writing himself unauthorized checks out of a client’s political committee.  That in and of itself is not strange, wrong, but not strange.  The strange part is [...]

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Texas drought, is this a come to Jesus or climate change moment?

Posted in Climate Change, Global Warming, tagged , , , , , on August 18, 2011 | 8 Comments »

The worst Texas drought since the 1950s has a handful of cities facing a prospect they’ve never encountered before: running out of water. Many lakes and reservoirs across the state are badly depleted after more than a month of 100-degree temperatures and less than 1 inch of rain. The worst-off communities are already trying to [...]

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A Plethora of Candidates for PUC Commissioner – Who would you pick?

Posted in Air Quality, Energy, tagged on August 18, 2011 | 2 Comments »

So far, there are nine candidates for the PUC Commission position that was vacated by PUC Chair, Barry Smitherman, when he resigned after being appointed by Governor Perry to the Texas Railroad Commission.   Included in the slate of candidates are attorneys, elected officials, and civil engineer. The Public Utility Commission of Texas regulates the [...]

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NRC revisiting low-level radioactive waste reduction policy

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , on August 17, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to its policy statement on volume reduction of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW). The proposed revisions would urge licensees to minimize the volume of waste they produce since such a focus will extend the operational lifetime of the existing commercial low-level disposal sites and reduce [...]

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This is the dawning of the age of the super PAC

Posted in Campaign Finance, tagged , , , on August 17, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

It is looking like the 2012 election will be dominated by the Super PAC.  If you thought your voice counted for little before, check out this MSNBC story on the new powerhouse super PAC called “Make Us Great Again” which, while claiming it is independent, just launched a website filled with photos of Rick Perry [...]

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Post-Fukushima NRC licensing hearing begins today in Austin

Posted in Global Warming on August 17, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

A licensing hearing for South Texas Project reactors begins today in Austin, Texas. The hearing is on the application to expand the South Texas Nuclear plant and raises key issues, especially in light of the explosions, fires and meltdowns at Fukushima. An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) panel–an independent body within the Nuclear Regulatory [...]

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Hotter ‘n Hell: the current state of Texas weather and a Texas bike race

Posted in Climate Change, Global Warming, tagged , , on August 16, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Houston hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday for the 15th consecutive day in a row breaking that city’s previous record of 14 consecutive days of 100+ degree heat set in July of 1980. For the year, Houston has seen a total of twenty-six 100-degree days. On average, the city usually only sees around 5 days with [...]

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The Public Needs Protection From Fracking Dangers

Posted in Air Quality, Water, tagged , , , on August 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Public Citizen today urged a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) task force to prioritize the safety of water resources at contamination risk from hydraulic fracturing. Among the solutions Public Citizen proposed is repeal of the various exemptions the natural gas industry has received from federal environmental laws; the denial of drilling companies’ “proprietary” right to [...]

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From toilet water to tap water, the new liquid gold of West Texas

Posted in Coal Plants, Water, tagged , , , on August 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

So after years of diminishing water supplies made even worse by the second-most severe drought in state history, some West Texas communities are resorting to a plan to turn sewage into drinking water. A water-reclamation plant believed to be the first in Texas will supply Big Spring, Midland, Odessa and Stanton and is currently under [...]

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