Electric vehicle infrastructure bill fizzles as EVs shift into high gear

Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature co-sponsored a measure to ensure Texas plays a leading role in the transition to electric vehicles. The House bill easily won committee approval but never came to a floor vote.

John Kent

Will Texas implement reinstated U.S. rules to cut methane emissions?

The curbs on leaks of climate-changing methane from oil and gas operations restore Obama-era rules that Trump junked. Texas has a record of suing to stop climate-protecting measures and refusing to implement them.

Nushin Huq

Two national polls find falling Republican support for renewable energy

Historically, Republicans have voiced more support for renewables than concern about climate change. But their enthusiasm for clean energy appears to be eroding in another possible sign of partisan polarization.

Bill Dawson

Threat of more blackouts may erode reliability claims for fossil energy

Amid soaring temps, Texas’ grid operator said unexpected shutdowns at power plants had stressed the system. Nearly 80% were “thermal” generators (mostly natural gas-fueled in Texas) and not renewable sources.

Bill Dawson

Climate change and the Texas Mid-Coast: The closest examination yet

A new assessment pinpoints threats to a haven for water lovers and wildlife. The National Wildlife Federation report also identifies proactive measures that state and local leadership can pursue to prepare.

Bob Henson

Introducing TCN Digest – themed, explanatory news summaries

In this first installment of Digest: Heat, rain, drought, megadrought and blackouts. In each edition of this new feature we’ll present selective overviews of recent developments with a common theme or close connections.

Bill Dawson

Research shows importance of protecting ocean sediment from trawling

Texas shrimpers and many others around the world use the fishing method. One study’s lowest projection showed trawling can release as much carbon into the water as Canada, the 11th biggest climate polluter, emits to the air.

Melissa Gaskill

Can a solar farm on an old landfill site improve life for a Houston community?

The project in the largely Black Sunnyside neighborhood features intersecting efforts to advance clean energy sources and address residual impacts of long-ago policies linked to environmental racism.

Nushin Huq

UN biodiversity conference to address growing species, ecosystem losses

An overview of the increasing urgency of Earth’s biodiversity crisis. Scientists say habitat losses are accelerating, vertebrate animals’ extinction rate is greater than thought, and two in five plant species are at risk of disappearing.

Melissa Gaskill & Bill Dawson

Paying landowners to store CO2 in soil a promising climate mitigation tool

Natural climate solutions – including land management practices that increase or protect carbon storage – could provide more than a third of the cost-effective climate mitigation needed between now and 2030, research shows.

Melissa Gaskill

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