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
The Interconnection and Tension between Mission and Climate Change
There is a tension between missions and climate change that I have not been able to shake while helping create the EcoFaith Dialogues series. It’s been present in searching for guest speakers around the globe. It’s been present in finding educational material on...
Severe and Disruptive Weather in Texas May Roundup
Texas is known for wild weather, but the diversity, intensity, and frequency of severe weather across the state has been remarkable. We have seen every mode of severe weather (hail, wind, tornadoes, and extreme precipitation) and many regions experienced multiple...
Texas Springtime Weather Roundup: Memorial Day Haze
The stagnant, hot, humid conditions over the weekend led to very hazy conditions in Central Texas over the weekend. The haze obscured distant skylines and natural features, turned the sky white, and generally contributed to the unpleasantness of the extremely hot...
Texas Springtime Weather Roundup: Extreme Heat
Memorial weekend saw extreme heat across a large portion of the State of Texas. My family was scheduled to go camping and hiking Sunday and Monday at Enchanted Rock. We chose Memorial Day weekend for the outing because that is early enough in the summer that our...
Texas Springtime Weather Roundup: Statewide Severe Weather
Springtime is severe weather in Texas, so it is not unusual to see thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes this time of year. What has been unusual is the frequency and severity of the severe weather. A brief survey of the storm reports for Texas available at the National...
El Niño, Climate Change Pose Complex Array of Climate Risks Around the World
In the US we often hear the meteorological term “El Niño” when a broadcast meteorologist is talking about unsettled weather like thunderstorms, squall lines, and tornadoes. It’s true, in the southwestern US, El Niño years tend to be wetter and stormier than they are...
Energy Efficiency Presents Opportunity for Grid Stability
Severe thunderstorms slammed into Houston Thursday evening bringing winds upwards of hurricane force over a large section of densely populated Harris County. The storms knocked down trees and crumpled electrical utility towers, knocking out power for 40% of residents....
International Religious Freedom: Fighting for the Common Good
Guest blog post by Rev. Mel Caraway and Rev. Phil DiekeWe had a great meeting today with a delegation from Tajikistan on "International Religious Freedom." Their visit was sponsored by the Department of State and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. ...
Action through Connection: Finding Hope through Nature
Living in Texas has heightened one of my family’s hobbies in my life: birdwatching. Birdwatching used to be something we would do in my family when sitting down with my grandparents after church. We would chat and look at the chickadees and barn swallows grazing. Now...
UMC General Conference, Creation Care, and COP
As I write this the General Conference of the United Methodist Church is underway in Charlotte, North Carolina. General Conference is the gathering of United Methodist delegates and episcopal leadership from around the world. The gathering normally takes place every...