The Alliance for a Clean Texas (ACT) hosts another town hall addressing TCEQ sunset.
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Archive for the ‘Air Quality’ Category
Alliance for Clean Texas Town Hall Meeting in Victoria, TX
Posted in Air Quality, Sunset, TCEQ, tagged alliance for a clean texas, clean air, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on November 27, 2010 |
Clean Cars Could Save Texans over $16 million on Thanksgiving Travel
Posted in Air Quality, Efficiency, Transportation, tagged Fuel economy in automobiles, fuel efficiency, Texas, Thanksgiving, United States Environmental Protection Agency on November 23, 2010 |
Regardless of your car needs, a more fuel efficient vehicle is available. But we can do better!
As Texas families prepare for one of the busiest travel holidays of the year, a new Environment Texas report finds that more fuel efficient cars could save Texans over $16 million at the gas pump this Thanksgiving holiday alone. The report was released as new federal fuel efficiency and global warming pollution standards for cars and light trucks are being developed. (more…)
TCEQ Sunset Town Halls – Victoria
Posted in Air Quality, Energy, Global Warming, Good Government, Sunset, TCEQ, Texas Legislature, tagged ACT, alliance for a clean texas, Austin, climate change, Coal, commission, EPA, glenn hegar, Global Warming, larry soward, Public Citizen, Sunset, TCEQ, Texas on November 23, 2010 |
Texans living around the Victoria region attended a town hall in September to express their concerns about the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on a number of different issues, including the proposed White Stallion coal plant in Bay City. On the panel were Sunset Commission Chairman Sen. Glenn Hegar, former TCEQ commissioner Larry Soward, the regional administrator of TCEQ for that area, and a lawyer with Blackburn & Carter who often take on environmental cases.
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This town hall was one of a series of events held to provide the people of Texas a way in which to voice their concerns to TCEQ. The official Sunset Commission hearing on TCEQ is scheduled for December 15th in Austin. For more video footage of these town halls check our archives and stay tuned to TexasVOX. For more information on the ongoing Sunset review of TCEQ check out Alliance for a Clean Texas.
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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We arePublic Citizen Texas.
How is the new Republican Congress going to deal with the EPA?
Posted in Air Quality, Global Warming, tagged greenhouse gas, Texas, United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce on November 23, 2010 |
In a Republican dominated America with many Republicans deeply skeptical of global warming, it is unlikely the new Congress will do much on the energy front. A broad plan to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and use the revenue to fund alternative energy — known as cap-and-trade — is dead
Vyng for the leadership post of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce when the Republicans take the reins in January are four interesting contenders:
- Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill, who last year, while quoting the Bible in a House hearing said, “The earth will end only when God decides it’s time to be over. ‘This earth will not be destroyed by a flood.'”
- Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, who apologized to BP for what he called a White House “shakedown” when it agreed to establishing the $20 billion Gulf oil spill trust fund;
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Rep. Cliff Stearns of Florida, who wants to open up Alaska’s wildlife refuge to drilling; and
- Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan who is considered the front-runner and probably the most moderate of the bunch. He has vowed to eliminate an offshoot of the committee, the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and wrote in a recent editorial, “The American people do not need Congress to spend millions of dollars to write reports and fly around the world. We must terminate this wasteful committee.”
There is one thing the newly empowered Republicans are sure to go after: the Environmental Protection Agency.
Over the past year, the EPA (after classifing greenhouse gases as a public health threat and then being under court order to do so after losing a Supreme Court challenge by the state of Massachusetts while under the Bush administration) has been quietly working on the sidelines to draft up rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Heavily targeted would be power plants, refineries, and heavy industries such as steel and concrete.
Republican lawmakers have made their intent clear and we can expect them to push for more oversight of the EPA. Even going as far as to try to pass legislation to limit the EPA’s authority.
Just last week, EPA issued guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions that will take effect this January. The guidelines were not particularly strict, which analysts took as a sign that the agency was willing to work with industry, but also as a sign that it plans on pressing ahead with its plan to regulate these gases
It seems that dealing with EPA is becoming a reality and Republican efforts to reign them in could get ugly.
Related Articles
- EPA Issues Greenhouse Gas Reduction Guidelines (huffingtonpost.com)
Nacogdoches town hall meeting on TCEQ Sunset – November 30th
Posted in Air Quality, Global Warming, Sunset, TCEQ, tagged Nacogdoches Texas, Sunset, TCEQ, Texas on November 20, 2010 |
The list of TCEQ Sunset town halls continues to grow with the addition of a town halls in Nacogdoches the week after Thanksgiving. The Nacogdoches town hall will take place Tuesday, November 30th from from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Center.
All are invited to attend these town halls to learn about the current TCEQ Sunset review, and to voice their recommendations for changes that will improve TCEQ. State representatives and senators from the Nacogdoches region have been invited to attend; these town halls provide an excellent opportunity for lawmakers to learn more about TCEQ’s impact in their community.
Sunset Report Takes Half Step Forward, More Change Needed at State Environmental Agency
Posted in Air Quality, Sunset, TCEQ, tagged Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on November 18, 2010 |
Today, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission staff released their report on the Texas Commission on Environental Quality. The Sunset Avisory Commissioners will meet to take public testimony – December 15th or 16th and will vote on their recommendations to the legislature on January 12, 2011.
The public can respond to the Sunset staff report up until the Commissioners meet. To read a copy of the report, click here. To access the form for submitting your comments on the staff report, click here. You can submit comments to the Commission up to the date that the Commissioners vote on their recommendations to the legislature. To submit a comment, click here.
Below is a statement from the Alliance for a Clean Texas (ACT). The ACT partner organizations include: Sierra Club, Public Citizen (Texas office), Environmental Defense Fund, Texas IMPACT, Air Alliance of Houston, Texas Campaign for the Environment, Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Coalition, Environment Texas, Texas League of Conservation Voters, ReEnergize Texas, the Enviromental Integrity Project, Texas Center for Policy Studies, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, Hill Country Alliance, National Wildlife Foundation, Clean Water Action and the Baptist Commission on Christian Life.
Is the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) – the state’s environmental agency – doing a good enough job protecting the health of Texans? The Sunset Advisory Commission Staff Report on TCEQ, issued today, is a first step in answering that question. The report contains a number of positive recommendations that, if adopted by the Sunset Advisory Commission and ultimately enacted by the Texas Legislature, will help strengthen the TCEQ in carrying out its responsibilities to protect the environment and public health for all Texans. However, the report failed to make recommendations to resolve a number of chronic problems plaguing the agency. (more…)
Study finds Texas coal plants foul neighboring states’ air
Posted in Air Quality, Coal, tagged Coal, EPA, Sierra Club, Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on November 18, 2010 |
Coal fired power plant
Coal-fired power plants in Texas are responsible for dozens of bad air days in neighboring states each year, according to a new analysis released by the Sierra Club. The report attributes as many as 64 days of harmful levels of smog in Oklahoma to Texas’ coal plants. It also ties the plants to as many as 20 days of unhealthy air in Arkansas and up to 16 in Louisiana.
The report supports earlier concerns raised by Oklahoma officials about the potential impacts on their state from the nearly 30 coal-fired plants either operating, permitted or proposed in Texas.
The attorney general for Oklahoma asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency in May to require Texas to show that the new plants will not foul the state’s air before issuing permits for construction. (more…)
Come tonight to the town hall meeting on the TCEQ Sunset in Austin
Posted in Air Quality, Sunset, TCEQ, tagged Austin, TCEQ, Texas, Town Hall Meeting on November 17, 2010 |
Austin town hall meeting on the TCEQ Sunset review – Wednesday, November 17th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Bass Lecture Hall at the LBJ School of Public Affairs on University of Texas campus. (This auditorium is located in the basement level of Sid Richardson Hall.)
All are invited to attend these town halls to learn about the current TCEQ Sunset review, and to voice their recommendations for changes that will improve TCEQ. State representatives and senators from the Austin region have been invited to attend; these town halls provide an excellent opportunity for lawmakers to learn more about TCEQ’s impact in their community.
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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.
Website offers some details about fracking chemicals: A public education effort or a slick PR campaign to take pressure off the natural gas industry?
Posted in Air Quality, tagged Chemical substance, drinking water, Environmental Protection Agency, Halliburton, hydraulic fracturing, Texas on November 17, 2010 |
Image via Wikipedia
Yesterday, Halliburton unveiled a new website that offers some details about the mix of chemicals used in a natural gas drilling technique following the Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) decision last week to subpoena Halliburton to force the company to turn over information about the chemicals it produces for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Halliburton has said the website is not a response to EPA’s actions or meant to satisfy the agency’s demands, but it does appear to be an attempt on the company’s part to allay public concerns about the impact of the practice on drinking water. (more…)
Abilene Town Hall on TCEQ Sunset, November 18th
Posted in Air Quality, Sunset, TCEQ, tagged abilene, Sunset, TCEQ, Texas on November 14, 2010 |
The list of TCEQ Sunset town halls continues to grow with the addition of town halls in Abilene, Austin and Lubbock the week before Thanksgiving. The Abilene town hall will take place Thursday, November 18th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Unity Church of Christianity.
All are invited to attend these town halls to learn about the current TCEQ Sunset review, and to voice their recommendations for changes that will improve TCEQ. State representatives and senators from the Abilene region have been invited to attend; these town halls provide an excellent opportunity for lawmakers to learn more about TCEQ’s impact in their community.
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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.
Related Articles
- Despite pollution worries, Texas builds coal plants. (texastribune.org)
- Beaumont Enterprise: Town hall meeting explores Sunset Review process for TCEQ (beaumontenterprise.com)
- Mysa.com: Town Hall meeting to review TCEQ (mysanantonio.com)
Lubbock Town Hall Meeting on TCEQ Sunset
Posted in Air Quality, Sunset, TCEQ, tagged lubbock, Lubbock Texas, TCEQ, Texas, texas tech university, Town Hall Meeting on November 14, 2010 |
The list of TCEQ Sunset town halls continues to grow with the addition of town halls in Austin and Lubbock the week before Thanksgiving. The Lubbock town hall will take place Friday, November 19th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Texas Tech School of Law.
All are invited to attend these town halls to learn about the current TCEQ Sunset review, and to voice their recommendations for changes that will improve TCEQ. State representatives and senators from the Lubbock region have been invited to attend; these town halls provide an excellent opportunity for lawmakers to learn more about TCEQ’s impact in their community.
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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.
A SIMMERING WATER WAR – special from Jim Hightower
Posted in Air Quality, Coal, Energy, green jobs, Nuclear, tagged Coal, colorado river, Entergy, Jim Hightower, Nuclear Power, Power Plants Suck, Power station, public citizen texas, Texas, water on November 12, 2010 |
Originally posted at jimhightower.com
Here in my home state of Texas, we’re suffering from withdrawal pains.
This is not caused by our addiction to alcohol or drugs – but to plain water. And to make our pain worse, it’s not the people of Texas who are hooked on a destructive water habit – it’s the boneheaded executives and greedheaded investors in coal-fired and nuclear-powered plants that generate electricity. (more…)
60 Minutes reports on Fracking
Posted in Air Quality, Energy, Global Warming, tagged Barnett shale, hydraulic fracturing, natural gas, Texas on November 12, 2010 |
On Sunday, November 14th, 60 minutes will run a segment on the controvercial process of hydrolic fracturing (also known as fracking) for extracting natural gas. Much of the footage was shot around the Barnett Shale near and in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where residents are grappling with a plethora of potential problems from compressor stations emitting known carcinogens such as benzene, to the poor lining of wells after drilling that has led some water taps to literally spout flames, all associated with the full set of activities needed to produce natural gas (see our earlier blog about the focus of a Town Hall meeting regarding the Texas Sunset process and the two agencies in Texas who regulate this process).
The “60 Minutes” episode is entitled SHALEIONAIRES and below is a brief description of the segment.
SHALEIONAIRES – While some complain that extracting natural gas from shale rock formations is tainting their water supply, others who have allowed drilling on their property are getting wealthy and becoming “shaleionaires.” Lesley Stahl reports. Shachar Bar-On and Meghan Frank are the producers.
You can watch this episode on CBS on Sunday, November 14th at 6 pm CT. If you missed it, click here to catch it online.
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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.
The Texas Railroad Commission and Barnett Shale – November 18th Public hearing
Posted in Air Quality, tagged Air Quality, Barnett shale, Energy, natural gas, Railroad Commission, Texas on November 12, 2010 |
The Energy Resources Committee of the Texas House of Representatives will meet to hear both invited and public testimony in the Fort Worth, Texas City Hall located at 1000 Throckmorton St. at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 18, 2010 to discuss interim charge #1.
The 81st legislature charged the committee with surveying current local ordinances governing surface use of property in oil and gas development and recommending changes to the 82nd legislature, if any, to the authority of the Railroad Commission to regulate the operation of oil and gas industries in urban areas of the state, particularly the Barnett Shale.
If you have questions regarding the hearing, please contact the committee office and speak to Bernice Espinosa-Torres or Ky Ash at (512)463-0656.
EPA issues subpoena after Halliburton refuses to disclose fracking details
Posted in Air Quality, TCEQ, Toxics, tagged dfw, fracking, Halliburton, hydraulic fracturing, Texas, United States Environmental Protection Agency on November 11, 2010 |
The EPA said it issued the subpoena after Texas-based Halliburton refused to voluntarily disclose the a description of the chemical components used in a drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing, a drilling practice that has been at the center of a controversy in the DFW area. Halliburton was the only one of nine major energy companies that refused the EPA’s request.
The agency said the information is important to its study of fracking, to see whether the practice affects drinking water and the public health. (more…)
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