The Public Utility Commission has launched a new website called www.SmartMeterTexas.com that allows customers to track their energy usage in 15-minute increments to better understand their usage patterns and potentially decrease their electricity consumption and costs. After several years of behind the scenes work, this is the first step in smart grid, or advanced meter technology that’s being rolled out.
The website is only available to customers that have had digital smart meters installed, of course. Have your most recent electric bill on hand when you log in to establish proper identification. As of Tuesday, 1 million customers in the Oncor and Centerpoint territories can use the site — and eventually more than 6.3 million Texans will be able to manage their energy use through the site.
This is the first step towards an exciting energy future where you’ll be able to view your electricity use through a browser on your smart phone and turn off or on the electricity flow to various devices. In the future you will be able to work with energy management partners (such as Google) and your retail electric provider to help better manage your use and reduce your energy consumption. In this not-so-distant frame, you’ll be able to tell if Junior left the TV on and turn it off from afar (and send him a nagging text message of course). Or maybe you realize you’re getting off work early; you’ll be able to go ahead and set your thermostat so the house will be nice and cool by the time you get home. The technological possibilities of smart meters will eventually offer us radically more control of our energy use, which will decrease overall pollution from power plants, the need for new power plants to be built, and of course our energy costs. Continue Reading »
Posted in Efficiency, Energy | Tagged centerpoint, electricity consumption, energy usage, oncor, public utility commission, smart meters, smartmetertexas.com, Texas, website |
Ya’ll have heard of the “climategate” and other recent, escalating attacks against global warming science, and the scientists behind it. Though these attacks are getting more frequent and belligerent in nature some people are fighting back with cool heads and cold hard facts. Deniers rely on misinformation and cherry picking so much that they have made it into a new art form, but the truth is a hard thing to ultimately dodge.
Here’s the latest “Climate Crock of the Week” from Peter Sinclair. His video series is fantastic and probably one of the best resources out there for getting the down-low on the latest nonsense being spouted by FOX news or their affiliated denier zealots. He breaks down the denier myths and even uses their own references against them – showing everyone what the real science says.
Check it out, and check out his YouTube Channel for the rest of his videos. His blog can be seen here. He has also just started a video series called “Renewable Energy Solution of the Month” as a partner series to his “Climate Crocks” for some alternative, solutions-oriented messaging. Check them all out!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp-iB6jwjUc&feature=digest]
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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.
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged global warming science, Peter Sinclair, Texas |
March 22, 2010 by Citizen Carol
Exelon Nuclear plans to file a 6,000-plus-page document that would give it as many as 40 years to begin work on a power plant in Victoria.
Exelon has looked at building a plant in this area of Texas since 2007. It plans to file an early site permit application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on March 25, 2010. This will allow them to keep their options open as the permit, if approved by the NRC, would give Exelon three to 20 years to decide whether to build a plant in Victoria County. It can be extended for another 20 years, giving the company up to 40 years to begin construction from the time that the NRC approves the permit.
Once the early site permit application is submitted, it undergoes a three- to four-year review process by the NRC in which it will evaluate the project’s environmental impact and safety preparedness.
The NRC will conduct a public meeting April 15 at the Victoria Community Center to explain what the review process entails.
Water use figures prominently into the concerns of many. The Guadalupe River is the designated water source for the possible power plant, and Exelon has a water reservation agreement with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) that expires in 2013.
In the agreement with the GBRA, Exelon reserved 75,000 acre-feet of water every year. The plant’s water use supercedes that of other water users, including the city of Victoria and farmers in the region.
We strongly urge the public to attend this meeting.
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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.
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged Exelon, Nuclear, public hearing, Texas, tx, Victoria, water |
The Texas Progressive Alliance’s weekly blog roundup will reach 32 million more Americans regardless of their pre-existing conditions.
Last week, TXsharon made a video statement at the EPA Public Hearing on the proposed ozone standards.
Who Needs a Proctologist when you have former State Representative Rick Green running for the Texas Supreme Court?
This week on Left of College Station, Continue Reading »
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bill white, brains and eggs, bryan, burnt orange report, chamber of commerce, college station, dallas, democrats, EPA, eye on williamson, health care, homeowners insurance, lakeisha rogers, left of college station, lewisville, louis gohmert, march madness, off the kuff, phillip martin, proposed ozone standards, public hearing, republicans, rick green, Rick Perry, school districts, school finance, south texas chisme, tax dodging, tea bagger, Teddy, Texas, texas progressive alliance, Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Round, texas supreme court, texas-mexico border, texaskaos, txsharon |
March 19, 2010 by Citizen Carol
NRC SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT NEW REACTORS
MEETINGS SCHEDULED – May 6 from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. and 7 – 10 p.m.
at the Bay City Civic Center, 201 7th St. in Bay City
Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is seeking public comments on its preliminary finding that there are no environmental impacts that would preclude issuing Combined Licenses (COL) for two new reactors at the South Texas Project site near Bay City, Texas. Continue Reading »
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged Nuclear Environment Texas STP, Texas |
Humans are not the only ones feeling the change of the climate, according to a new study released by U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called The State of the Birds: 2010 Report on Climate Change. Collaborating with experts from the nation’s leading conservation organizations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that climate change has and will continue to have a devastating effect on bird species in all habitats.
“For well over a century, migratory birds have faced stresses such as commercial hunting, loss of forests, the use of DDT and other pesticides, a loss of wetlands and other key habitat, the introduction of invasive species, and other impacts of human development,” Salazar said. “Now they are facing a new threat–climate change–that could dramatically alter their habitat and food supply and push many species towards extinction.”
The State of the Birds reports on oceanic, coastal, wetlands, islands, aridlands, grasslands and forest birds. These findings include observations and predictions, their vulnerability and potential impacts. Continue Reading »
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged american bird conservancy, birds, climate change, david pashley, DDT, ecosystem loss, fish and wildlife service, golden cheeked warbler, ken salazar, state of the birds, Texas, usfws |
Environment Texas is throwing a SXSW party tomorrow called: A Solar Affair: Beats and Beers for Solar Power.
Check out the flyer and blog below by Luke Metzger, director of Environment Texas — hope to see you there!
In Texas, we have enough sun to power the entire state, and enough beats and beer to power Environment Texas’ unofficial SXSW party A Solar Affair: Beats and Beers for Solar Power. Friday’s party – which features music by Daedelus and a short talk by state Representative Mark Strama – comes amidst a major push for Texas to go solar. Continue Reading »
Posted in solar | Tagged beats and beers, daedalus, dj fundamental, environment texas, luke metzger, solar affair, Solar Power Environment Texas, sxsw, Texas |
Activists are risking arrest by demonstrating outside EPA national headquarters in make-shift tripod stands. They say they won’t go away until EPA administrator Lisa Jackson promises to make a fly-over of the Appalachian Mountain Top Removal coal mines to see first hand the destruction it is causing.
Despite the Obama administration making claims they would crack down on MTR mining, the EPA has been slow to act and has actually granted some new MTR mining permits. It is only through continued pressure and media exposure that this horribly destructive practice can finally be stopped.
Civil disobedience and direct action are one of the most effective means of fighting injustice and tyranny. These activists are putting their freedom and their safety on the line to non-violently oppose one of the most irreversibly and violently destructive industries in history. Please help support their actions by posting at RAN and by contacting Lisa Jackson and asking her to go to Appalachia and take action against MTR.
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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.
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged action, Coal, EPA, Global Warming, Lisa Jackson, Mining, mountain top removal, mountaintop, mtr, obama, protest, RAN, Texas |
The University of Texas at San Antonio and St. Philip’s College will both soon be getting solar arrays, thanks to the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) and federal stimulus programs.
UTSA will get a 52 kilowatts of generating capacity with its $1.3 million grant, and St. Phillip’s will receive a $2 million grant in order to install 400kW of solar capacity. These two projects will triple San Antonio’s solar capacity, save the schools millions in energy costs, and will serve as a laboratory for green jobs training and workforce development.
Says St. Phillips College President Dr. Williams Loston,
This grant represents a tremendous opportunity for St. Philip’s College. It will produce energy for the college, and it will enhance our standing as an area leader in workforce education. Most importantly, we will engage our community in a component of our education.
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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.
Posted in solar | Tagged San Antonio, solar, St. Philip?s College, st. phillips college, state energy conservation office, stimulus funds, Texas, university of texas san antonio, utsa, Williams Loston |
Next Friday, March 26, Good Company Associates and the Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities are hosting a free Green Jobs Initiative Conference from 8:30 to 12:30 in Austin, Texas.
There will be panels led by industry experts in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and smart grid focusing on workforce development issues. The agenda has been posted on the registration page. The event is free, but you still have to go register.
The Green Jobs Initiative Conference will be held in the Capitol Extension Auditorium which can be seen on this map and parking information can be viewed on this map.
This looks like a great opportunity for all interested parties. Check back with us after the conference and tell us how it was and what you learned!
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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.
Posted in green jobs | Tagged capitol extension, conference, Energy Efficiency, good company associates, green jobs, green jobs initiative conference, renewable energy, smart grid, Texas, Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities |
In last week’s Oak Hill Gazette, State Senator Jeff Wentworth wrote a guest article profiling the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. Next month, from April 16-25, Texas residents can get a rebate to buy up to two energy efficient appliances including refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, hot water heaters, clothes washers, and both room and central air conditioners. Check out the article for more information, and stay posted to Texas Vox for continued updates on the program.
Conserve energy and save money
Jeff Wentworth, State Senator, District 25
Texans who believe in saving money and conserving energy will have the opportunity to do both when they purchase an appliance through the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, April 16-25.
Appliances that qualify for the rebate include refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, hot water heaters, clothes washers, air source heat pumps and both room and central air conditioners. In addition to money received through a rebate, Energy Star appliances use less energy and less water than most older appliances, saving consumers money each month on their utility bills.
Participants must be Texas residents. They must replace an old appliance with a new, energy-efficient model that they purchase in-store from a Texas retailer between April 16 and April 25 to receive a mail-in rebate. State rebates, including an additional $75 for recycling the old appliance, may be combined with other rebates and incentives offered by manufacturers and retailers and with federal tax credits. Each household is eligible for up to two appliance rebates, as long as they are for two different types of appliances. Continue Reading »
Posted in Efficiency, Energy | Tagged appliances, conservation, doe, Efficiency, energy efficient appliance rebate program, Energy Star, jeff wentworth, oak hill gazette, seco, state energy conservation office, state rebates, state senator, Texas, united states department of energy |
The Texas Progressive Alliance heads into March Madness with its own bracket of news and links for the week.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders how Republicans can be so violently against having services they desperately need?
Off the Kuff analyzed county returns in the primaries for Governor, Lite Guv, and the Commissioners.
When are you “too gay” for your job? The Texas Cloverleaf finds out. Continue Reading »
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged bay area houston, brains and eggs, cheney, China, City Council, eye on williamson, flower mound, Karl Rove, lewisville, off the kuff, rove, south texas chisme, Texas, texas cloverleaf, texas progressive alliance, Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Round, whosplayin |
“Tomorrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of today?” — Vladimir, Waiting for Godot
The Public Citizen Texas Week in Review Continue Reading »
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged Andrew Sauls, Andrews County waste dump, austin generation plan, clean energy for austin, coal plant, david power, energy advocacy, Energy Efficiency, environment texas, environmental defense fund, EPA hearing, ICLEI, Melissa Sanchez, mona avalos, ozone attainment standards, P.A.C.E., PACE, patrick reck, property assessed clean energy, reenergize texas, ryan rittenhouse, sarah mcdonald, Sierra Club, smitty, Tar Sands, Texas, think green, think green fund, Tom "Smitty" Smith, trevor lovell, univision dallas, week in review |
Great joint op-ed by our friend McCall Johnson over at Environment Texas and State Rep. Rafael Anchia, winner of Public Citizen’s Legislator of the Year award. Following on the heels of TXU’s announcement last week that it will offer customers an affordable solar leasing program, the gist of it is that we can’t let the momentum for solar wane whenever the program’s money runs out. Sounds like Rep. Anchia may have some ideas for a legislative fix, check it out… Continue Reading »
Posted in Energy, solar | Tagged 82nd legislature, carrollton, dallas, democrats, distributed energy, energy future holdings, environment texas, farmers branch, females, green jobs, hispanics, incentives, irving, jobs, legislator of the year, males, manufacturing, market development, mccall johnson, oncor, Public Citizen, public utility commission, PUC, rafael anchia, republicans, retail electric providers, silicon, solar, solar power, solarcity, Texas, TXU |
The United States Department of Energy has sunk $154 million into a carbon capture and sequestration project in Texas proposed by NRG Energy near Houston. The “demonstration” project will be built on their existing Parish Generating Station in Thompsons, TX (one of the biggest and dirtiest coal plants in Texas and the United States). The project will only be capturing 60 megawatts worth of CO2 from the plant – or 400,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. In comparison the Parish plant currently generates 2,697 megawatts of power and releases over 21 million tons of CO2 every year. Also keep in mind that the CO2 from this “capture” process will be used in what’s called “Enhanced Oil Recovery” meaning that the CO2 being sequestered will be partially offset by the CO2 released when the resulting oil is burned. And even industry analysts have said that between 35-50% of the CO2 solution used in EOR comes back up during the oil recovery process, with this carbon being released back into the atmosphere. Continue Reading »
Posted in Coal, Global Warming | Tagged carbon capture, carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, clean coal, climate change, Coal, coal plant, Department of Energy, doe, Energy, NRG, Texas |
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The Public Utility Commission has launched a new website called www.SmartMeterTexas.com that allows customers to track their energy usage in 15-minute increments to better understand their usage patterns and potentially decrease their electricity consumption and costs. After several years of behind the scenes work, this is the first step in smart grid, or advanced meter technology that’s being rolled out.
