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.
NEWS + LATEST UPDATES
Texans Threatened by Unstable Grid (Again)
The unreliable electric grid threatens Texans; having once again, been asked to conserve power. Last Friday, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) requested that consumers “conserve power when they can by setting their thermostats to 78-degrees or above...
The White House and Justice Department Launch Promising Actions
New announcements out of D.C. have signaled good news for environmental advocates. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, of the Justice Department (DOJ), alongside the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Michael Regan, launched several new actions...
How Would You Get Texas to Net-Zero?
Texas has long been a leader in the energy sector, producing the most electricity in the U.S. and leading the nation in wind-powered generation. A recent report from the University of Texas at Austin, “Don’t Mess with Texas: Getting the Lone Star State to Net-Zero by...
Internal Climate Migration Imposes Varying Challenges Across the U.S.
Over recent years, climate change-focused reports like those from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have warned that climatic consequences are growing exponentially, and without rapid climate action, the outcomes for vulnerable communities will be...
Texas Campaign for the Environment Calls Out the Worst Fossil Fuel Emitters
Texas Campaign for the Environment project “Save Texas”, just released its official list of top polluters from the oil and natural gas industry. The “Terrible 12”, as the list is called, identified some of the Lone Star State’s largest and most well-known oil and gas...
Are You Involved in Faith Climate Action Week?
Faith Climate Action Week is ten days in April during Earth Month where Interfaith Power and Light congregations focus on how they can actively protect God’s creation. Interfaith Power and Light is a coalition of congregations embracing faith, community, justice, and...
IPCC: Climate Resilient Development
The phrase “climate resilient development” has been a continual feature throughout my IPCC blog post series, as it’s a key strategy in fighting climate change. The first post of the series discussed how integral adaptation strategies are, even with the barriers of...
How Can the New “Middle Mile” Broadband Rule Help Texans?
The Covid-19 pandemic emphasized the necessity of high-speed broadband access with the rapid shift to online platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Telehealth services. Despite that necessity, over 2 million Texan households still live in “digital deserts” - the...
IPCC: The Vulnerability and Strength of Cities
A majority of the world’s population inhabits cities where climate risks and their impacts are becoming increasingly detrimental. Between 2015 and 2020, urban population growth has increased by over 397 million people, with 90% of that increase in less developed...
IPCC: Adaptation, Loss and Damage, and the Advantages of Nature
The threats from climate change are growing rapidly as global temperatures rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest report warns that nature and humans may not adapt without swift climate action. Today, 3.3–3.6 billion people live in areas...