Texas Climate & Energy
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas is the largest energy-producing and energy-consuming state in the nation. Texas produces more electricity than any other state, generating almost twice as much as Florida, the second-highest electricity-producing state. Thus, Texas has a disproportionate impact on the ability of the U.S. and the global community to mitigate climate change. Texas also can be an energy justice leader, ensuring that energy production doesn’t harm vulnerable communities, and energy is available even to the marginalized.
Light and Life
Using the Public Utility Commission of Texas Sunset Review to Safeguard Texans’ Health and Wellbeing
The upcoming 2022-2023 Sunset review of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, offers a unique opportunity for Texas lawmakers to advance public health in the Lone Star State.
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Fossils
While representatives of national governments are parsing diplomatic language in meeting rooms at the climate negotiations, outside the rooms advocates from “civil society” use every strategy they can think of to advance their issues and get negotiators’ attention....
COP Day 3: Loss & Damages
With another day at COP done, I can feel myself orienting to the space and rhythm of the conference. Don’t get me wrong, COP is still chaotic and overwhelming, however, knowing where all of the bathrooms and coffee stops are really improves morale. I’ve arrived back...
Local Funds, Global Fights
Today at COP was a study in contrast between international policy negotiation and the implementation work of local communities. The US is squarely in the middle of both conversations, a fact US Special Climate Envoy John Kerry highlighted in his morning talk at the...
COP27 Day 2: Stresses and Successes
After days of preliminary meetings and logistics, this Monday we finally started our dive into the Blue Zone (the designated section of COP for meetings and events). Needless to say, it was a lot. There are dozens of rooms with different delegations, debriefings and...
COP27 Initial Thoughts: Migration, Hope and Sleep Deprivation
After over 48 hours of plane, cars and so much sitting in airports, I finally arrived in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt early Saturday morning, greasy, sleep deprived and ready to be thrown into the hectic world that is COP27. Though climate policy has...
Encountering Beloved Community in the Desert
We arrived in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, for this year’s United Nations climate negotiations after two days of travel, and we were immediately in the midst of global community: friends from around the world, diplomats and policy experts, and the people of the local...
Tax Rebates, EV Credits, and Energy Savings: How the Inflation Reduction Act Benefits Consumers
The evenly divided U.S. Senate passed a historic $740 billion reconciliation bill—the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—packed with clean energy investments, health care reform, and tax incentives. Despite Republican efforts to stifle its passage, Democrats prevailed,...
The 2023 Farm Bill Can Reduce Hunger While Fighting Climate Change
The reauthorization of the omnibus Farm Bill can reduce food insecurity, benefit the environment, and increase agricultural equity across the country. For nearly a century, this piece of legislation has evolved to meet the needs of farmers and consumers from farm to...
There’s Hope for Climate Progress Even Without Legislation
Despite the setback to climate legislation resulting from W.Va. Senator Joe Manchin's intransigence, there’s still hope for climate action through the executive branch. After hearing of Sen. Manchin’s decision, President Biden promised to take "strong executive...
A Methane Refresher: What’s New?
With another heat wave radiating across Texas and an unsettling energy conservation alert, courtesy of ERCOT, it’s prudent to consider the cause of these extreme temperatures. The answer is climate change; as confirmed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change...