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New Report: CPS Energy’s Calaveras Power Station among nation’s top water polluters
Report: Polluters dumped ~200 million lbs. of toxics into waterways
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Environment Texas Research & Policy Center
Luke Metzger
Executive Director, Environment Texas Research & Policy Center
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Mark Morgenstein
Director of Media Relations, The Public Interest Network [email protected]
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Statement: Biden acts on Gulf offshore wind
Metzger issued the following statement in response to the President's announcement: "It's exciting to see offshore wind in the Gulf getting closer to reality. With strong winds in the evenings when we need energy the most, offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico would greatly complement Texas’ onshore renewable energy resources, help bolster our shaky electric grid, and help our environment. With shallow, warm water, smaller waves, and existing offshore infrastructure and expertise, we're well suited to develop this abundant, clean resource. I applaud the President and the Interior Department for moving forward with developing this incredible resource."
Climate change driving strain on electric grid
Texas will only get hotter, and our grid less stable, unless we act quickly to move away from fossil fuels.
Report: Damaging methane gas pipeline leaks happen every 40 hours in the U.S.
AUSTIN, Texas - Methane gas – commonly referred to as “natural” gas – has been piped through our communities for heating and cooking for a century, and for just as long, has been subject to dangerous leaks. On Thursday, Environment Texas Research and Policy Center, TexPIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group released a new report that finds from 2010 through nearly the end of 2021, almost 2,600 gas pipeline incidents occurred in the United States that were serious enough to require reporting to the federal government. That’s the equivalent to one every 40 hours.
Logging mature and old trees threatens U.S. climate goals
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday signed a memorandum to clarify the U.S. Forest Service’s direction on climate policy. The memo, "Climate Resilience and Carbon Stewardship of America's National Forests and Grasslands," follows a recent White House executive order highlighting the importance of conserving mature and old-growth forests on federal lands as a climate solution. The memo, which lays out “actions to restore forests, improve resilience, and address the climate crisis”, falls short in meeting the ambition outlined in President Joe Biden’s order on old forests and trees. Secretary Vilsack acknowledges the role that older trees play in absorbing and storing carbon and supporting biodiversity. But he fails to outline a plan for his agency to protect mature and old-growth forests and trees from commercial logging.
Environment Texas celebrates Pollinator Week
AUSTIN – As we celebrate birds, bats, bees, beetles and butterflies during Pollinator Week 2022, Environment Texas is kicking off actions to generate visibility around the impacts of pesticides on declining pollinator populations, especially bees.
Texas home to three of nation’s top 10 dirtiest power plants
Statement: White House invokes Defense Production Act for clean energy
President Joe Biden authorized use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) on Monday to speed up the domestic production of key clean energy technologies for use in buildings.
Statement: Interior Department proposes first offshore California wind lease sales
The Department of the Interior has announced the first proposed lease sales for wind power off the shore of California and the United States’ West Coast.
San Antonio utility CPS Energy announces contract for 300 megawatts of solar
AUSTIN, Texas - San Antonio’s municipally-owned utility CPS Energy announced on Tuesday a contract with Consolidated Edison Development, Inc. to add 300 megawatts of utility-scale solar to its portfolio. This is the first partnership in the utility’s FlexPOWER Bundle initiative which seeks to add 900 megawatts of solar to replace some of the utility’s existing older, dirtier power generation capacity.
In a victory for marine life, climate, Biden administration cancels three oil leases in ocean waters
WASHINGTON – Taking action to protect ocean wildlife and U.S. coasts, the Biden administration on Wednesday ditched plans for three offshore oil and gas lease sales.