Erin Douglas 📝🌎🕵🏻♀️
@erinmdouglas23
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Climate reporter @BostonGlobe 📝 More often on Bluesky these days... https://t.co/UDgsoe2JFn 🌎 (or try me on LinkedIn!)
Boston, MA
Joined December 2011
Today in the Starbucks drive-thru in Uvalde, the barista asked if I was taking time to take care of myself. I told her I would keep trying and returned the question. She said she actually works in San Antonio, but is working here so that Uvalde baristas have time off to grieve.
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I will try to update this thread with more experiences of humanity, love, and compassion in Uvalde. But quite honestly, I'm limiting my time on Twitter (one way I'm taking care of myself). Just know that there have been so many moments like this.
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Yesterday, my colleague @JasonBeeferman and I didn't have an immediately nearby or reliable place to work. A librarian not only gave us a room, but let me stay long after they closed so that I could finish writing this story:
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Wow. This Duke study: A single report in a local newspaper about a labor violation increases compliance in other nearby facilities equivalent to 200+ OSHA inspections (!!)
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Texas will soon begin testing drinking water for lead in 25,000 schools/childcare facilities. For the very first time, we will know what children are exposed to. The change comes from an EPA rule that was updated after the Flint water crisis.
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Mark Aguirre was part of a group of 20 private investigators hired by a right-wing organization led by GOP megadonor Steve Hotze to investigate unsubstantiated voter fraud claims in Texas.
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Yet another way #climatechange is impacting Texans: Extreme heat = Worse air quality = Worse health. Ozone inflames our lungs, making us susceptible to infections (ie covid), prompt asthma attacks, etc. Sunlight + heat accelerates reactions to form ozone.
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Texas' grid was "seconds and minutes" away from a catastrophic scenario — one that would have left Texans without power for months instead of days. Here's what grid operators were trying to avoid when they decided to implement the blackouts:
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Read the @nytimes .Read the @WSJ .Read the @latimes.Read the @BostonGlobe .Read the @chicagotribune.Read the @TB_Times.Read the @dallasnews.Read the @denverpost .And now, read the @ColoradoSun .☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️.(Read journalism).
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Hi, I'm the environment reporter @TexasTribune & we're asking for your help documenting climate change in Texas. Climate change doesn't hit countries, communities, and people equally. It is fundamentally a local problem, even as it requires global solutions. THREAD:.
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Hi there, it's my first day as a climate reporter for.@BostonGlobe! 🌎 . For all things climate change in New England (. especially adaptation, solutions, and resilience!) find me at erin.douglas@globe.com
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Texas officials knew winter storms could leave the power grid vulnerable, but left the choice to prepare up to power companies. That, plus a market largely isolated from the rest of the country’s power grid, left the state alone to deal with the crisis:
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BREAKING: Four ERCOT board members resigning — all four reside outside of Texas.
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Jackson Women's Health is relocating their abortion clinic to New Mexico, @jsmccullou reports. They found an old dentist’s office in Las Cruces, 40 miles north of El Paso, and hope to have their new clinic open next month.
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In a few weeks, I'll leave the @HoustonChron's business desk. On Nov. 9, I'll start at the @TexasTribune covering the environment 🌎 (from Houston!).
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oh wow. The EPA today sent a letter to the CEO of Union Pacific Railroad requesting info about its railyard site in Houston where a cancer cluster was identified among nearby residents. EPA wants UP to provide detailed info on the site requested by Houston's mayor.
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Family members of the Uvalde mass shooting victims have now been camping outside Uvalde school district offices for almost 200 hours, demanding district police who were at Robb the day of the shooting be suspended. @alereports and @snehadey_ report:
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Earlier this week we wrote that Texas power infrastructure was not ready for the cold. Then, we wrote that state leaders were warned of that issue 10 yrs ago. Today: Here's how difficult it will be for Texas to fix that problem they ignored for years—
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Young children are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of lead poisoning on the brain and nervous system. Lead exposure in children is known to cause slowed growth, behavior and learning problems, difficulty hearing and lower IQs.
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Today is my first day at the @TexasTribune! What are all you #environment and #climate people thinking about a Biden administration? Implications for Texas environmental policy? Hopes, dreams, fears? send gossip to edouglas at 🕵️♀️.
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I’m at a center in Uvalde where hundreds of people are waiting in line to donate blood. There are so many people that most are being told to make an appointment to come back. “It’s beautiful, incredible turnout,” the chief operating officer of South Texas Blood and Tissue said.
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At least 17 Texas school districts proactively tested drinking water for lead after Flint. Of the more than 1,000 schools in those districts, 13% found concentrations of lead above the federal threshold for corrective action . (data from @EnvironmentTex).
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Hi, I'm the environment reporter for @TexasTribune and I'll be based in Dallas all summer!! 🌻. I don't know north TX very well, and I want to learn!! DFW ppl, what environmental issues are on your mind? Climate change thoughts? Fav Dallas restaurants?? edouglas@texastribune.org.
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A Sunrise Movement protest is happening now outside of Ted Cruz’s Houston home and… there’s Snowflake
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One woman I spoke with for this story said she woke up around 5:30 a.m. to buy and deliver donuts to as many mourning families as she could. On Thursday, she helped prepare and deliver eight platters of tuna sandwiches.
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Today is my last day at @TexasTribune 💛. I'm so grateful for 3 years in this newsroom with such kind, sharp and dedicated colleagues. I'm really proud of the work we did together. And I'm feeling overwhelmed with love for this state and for the friends I made here.
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Decades ago, scientists warned of the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Here are a few*:.⬆️ intense hurricanes.⬆️ global food prices.⬆️ storm surges.⬆️ vector-borne disease outbreaks.⬆️ heat stress on our bodies.⬆️ waterborne pathogen outbreaks.( * many more per IPCC).
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Texans are asked to conserve electricity through Friday due to what ERCOT is calling an "unusual" amount of generation out for repair this early in the season combined with record demand for power.
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In 2019 can we stop questioning young reporters' decision to go into journalism? the answer is we love it and the world needs it.
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Remember when politicians were singing the praises of the NRA for "moving" to Texas (in bankruptcy)? . A federal Dallas judge just dismissed that "move" finding the bankruptcy was not filed in good faith. Previous story with background:
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Planned Parenthood clinics in Texas are pausing abortion services, says Jeffrey Hons, of Planned Parenthood South Texas.
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Texas regulators just adopted a rule requiring electric companies to make winter weather preparations based on recommendations from a decade ago that were never implemented. The rule also requires power plants to fix known issues that occurred in the 2021 power crisis.
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Updated: ERCOT says a large number of power plants are offline right now, but could not provide details as to what may be causing the "very concerning" number of outages.
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Inbox: The Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas and environmental groups are suing Texas for closing Boca Chica Beach for SpaceX operations. They argue that a 2013 amendment allowing Texas public beaches to close for space flight operations violates the state's constitution.
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People around the world are *currently* living those predictions—including in Texas. What climate change impacts have scientists documented in TX?. Well, we outlined a *few* including:.⬆️ intensity of hurricanes.⬆️ sea levels.⬆️ heat.⬆️ water scarcity.
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Great news for the @TexasTribune today! We are expanding our climate & environment team. I will be the climate reporter — which means we're hiring an environment reporter to work alongside myself and our energy reporter @MitchellFerman.
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Tune into MSNBC tonight between 7-8 pm CT to hear me talk about a voter fraud conspiracy that resulted in a man being allegedly assaulted. A former Houston police officer was charged with aggregated assault with a deadly weapon.
Joining @chrislhayes tonight:.@ddiamond .@DrRichBesser .@mehdirhasan .@michelleinbklyn .@SenBlumenthal .@erinmdouglas23.#inners.
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This is a story about an Indigenous peoples group suing over a Texas oil company's expansion on to sacred land. But it's much more than that. It's also a story about the Karankawa Kadla people reviving their community, culture and reclaiming history. 1/8
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Wow. Yesterday was the hottest day ever recorded globally. "The average global temperature reached 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.62 Fahrenheit), surpassing the August 2016 record of 16.92C (62.46F) as heatwaves sizzled around the world."
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The rumors are true: It's easy to vote early in Harris County right now! Voted at the Baker Ripley campus in the East End — in and out in 10 minutes, only one person in line ahead of me. By contrast, during the primaries I waited hours at this same location. Vote early!!
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About 50 @sunrisemvmt protesters outside of Ted Cruz Houston home today demanding Biden stop negotiations with the GOP and pass @AOC civilian climate corps plan. A few are on the lawn as the crowd sings “Whose side are you on?” . About a dozen police and security watching.
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Protesters finished the last mile of a 40 day and 400 mile climate march from New Orleans in Houston today. They marched to raise awareness of climate disasters (hurricanes, pollution, TX freeze).
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Emails obtained by us + @propublica, interviews, & public statements paint a picture of how Texas oil and gas regulators worried about the image of both the agency and the industry it regulates during the February power crisis. Today w/ @MitchellFerman
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Environmental organizations are asking the EPA to review Texas' air pollution program for civil rights violations. They say TCEQ has refused to conduct environmental justice analyses in relation to air pollution permits.
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Very excited that @TexasTribune now has a dedicated page for climate change coverage!!! . All things climate change — what it means for residents, how Texas communities adapt, the politics & policies that accelerate or block solutions — will be here:.
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One month ago today: . Extreme losses in electric generation caused the Texas power outages, leaving millions without heat, electricity, and/or water, and killed dozens of people across our state.
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Another woman I spoke with is blood type O negative. Since it can be used for any blood type, she said she goes to every blood drive she can. This one was for her own community. She was the second person in line to donate blood Wednesday morning.
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We asked ERCOT earlier about its narrow margins this week. A spokesperson told us earlier today that more power generation is offline than usual right now because of repairs following the February storm & power crisis.
Alert: Due to a combination of high gen outages typical in April & higher-than-forecasted demand caused by a stalled cold front over TX, ERCOT may enter emergency conditions. We do not expect customer outages. Declaring an emergency would allow us to access additional resources.
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In Texas, climate change also means:.- more intense rainfall.- hotter droughts.- urban flooding.- sea level rise + coastal erosion.- larger storm surges.- wildfire danger.
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Next up for me: I'm joining the @BostonGlobe as a climate reporter in mid January. So, I'm saying goodbye to Texas — where I've spent 5 meaningful, important and fun(!) years. Please stay in touch 💛 . p.s. I'm much more reachable by email / linkedin these days than on here!✨.
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New analysis of the Texas power crisis calculates outages not with renewables *capacity* but with the actual estimated losses. Pretty clear picture: Natural gas plants were by far the biggest share of outages in February. Texas' grid is extremely dependent on natural gas.
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Texas lawmakers recently passed legislation that aimed to prevent blackouts, but it will likely take years before those changes are fully implemented. see how consumers were left out: & a guide to power grid legislation:
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Re-upping a story from the spring: ERCOT outlined some extreme scenarios earlier this year warning that a severe heat wave or drought combined with high demand for power could put the grid in jeopardy this summer.
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BREAKING: Texas PUC chair DeAnn Walker has resigned. The agency regulates the state’s electric, telecommunication, and water and sewer utilities and has been under fire for its handling of the Texas power outages. #txlege.
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EPA is seeking to list the Houston and Dallas metro areas as “severe” violators of 2008 federal ozone pollution standards. This will likely mean stricter pollution controls in both regions to reduce local smog. More details:
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"On the cross with his name, one child had written, 'You were a good friend' with smiley faces for the two O’s in 'good.' Others kept it simple. 'Sup Rojelio,' another message read.".by @snehadey_ @broookepark @andrewczhang and me:.
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We spoke with community members at a vigil tonight. “We were all strong for El Paso,” one life-long resident of Uvalde told me, “But now that we’re going through it, we’re really not that strong right now. We’re trying to be. I want to be strong.”.
Uvalde has prayed for victims elsewhere. Now, mourners here pray for one another.
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Just heard from ERCOT, former CEO Bill Magness will be paid one year of his salary as severance since he was terminated by the board without cause. Story TK.
The CEO of ERCOT — the independent and nonprofit entity that operates and manages the electricity grid that covers much of Texas — was fired tonight. Bill Magness is the latest official to depart following the winter storm catastrophe.
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can we talk about how my district in Austin is literally a 100-mile long slice of the I-35 corridor that goes all the way to San Antonio?!. Before redistricting, it was a majority Hispanic district. See yours here: +follow @alexazura's excellent reporting
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Here is the study, "Regulation By Shaming: Deterrence Effects of Publicizing Violations of Workplace Safety and Health Laws" And here is the press release about the study from @DukeSanford :
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Correcting high levels of lead in water will be a huge effort for the state's water systems and TCEQ. Experts say it's difficult to identify which components of the system are at fault and the problem is extremely widespread with old lead-based infrastructure still in the ground.
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The rodeo has single-handedly made me like Houston:.- Kacey Musgraves left the stage riding a horse .- Chris Stapleton sang love songs to his pregnant wife.- 6 yo winner of sheep riding event says "I practiced on my neighbors" .- announcer baptized non-Texans as Texans.- the food.
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Experts told me it's possible to winterize the TX grid. The problem is that we're doing it after the fact — rather than heeding the warnings of 2011 and building for the cold, now, we're going to have to retrofit equipment. That's much more difficult.
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Today is my 1 year work anniversary at the @HoustonChron and I still cannot believe how lucky I am to work in a newsroom with so many talented colleagues who challenge me, support me and inspire me every day. Reporting here is a dream job.
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What does West Virginia v EPA have to do with Texas? .🔸TX emits most carbon dioxide emissions of any state.🔸Electricity gen = 28% of those emissions. 🔸3 TX coal power plants are in the top 10 highest greenhouse gas polluting plants in the country.
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A Texas Department of Agriculture report identifies climate change as a threat to Texas' food supply chains and warns of increased food insecurity as climate change effects worsen. by @jayme_lozano:
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A fitting day to accept an offer for business reporter at the @HoustonChron: Today I chased down election stories in my current newsroom (@ProPublica @electionland) to help both my former co-workers in CO and future co-workers in TX report. I love journalism.
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More evidence that the failure to winterize power plants was the major cause of the Texas power crisis, according to preliminary ERCOT analysis. At the peak of generation offline, 54% of megawatts down were due to weather-related outages.
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Protesters are being arrested by Houston police now for trespassing. Police are slowly taking them one at a time
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NEW: We investigated a 2019 chemical fire in the Houston region. High levels of benzene, known to be harmful to human health, continued to fluctuate in the air long after the fire at ITC’s chemical storage facility was extinguished, EPA data reveals.
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"You went into closed doors. and you didn't even have a woman on the panel." Questions on health care repeal and replace process.
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Half a million Texans are without power this morning. details:
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Texas politicians and regulators were warned after the 2011 storm that more “winterizing” of power infrastructure was necessary. “This should have been addressed in 2011 by the Legislature after that market meltdown, but there was no substantial follow up,” @edhirs told me.
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In San Angelo, a west Tx city of 101,000, about half the city has been without water for 5 days after officials found industrial chemicals in the water. Residents told me their water smelled like propane and felt nauseous after showering in it.
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Spent a week in Midland asking locals what a surge in earthquakes feels like:. It sounds like a truck rammed into the side of the house. Or maybe, the air conditioner fell off the roof. Sometimes it's like getting off of a rollercoaster, dizzy and shaky.
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A water pipeline gave San Antonio water security "for decades to come.". But rural landowners—whose wells are now going dry—see unchecked urban growth. It's one example of the fight over groundwater in Texas as climate change brings more severe droughts:
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When I met Dana, I was struck by her resolve to talk about the hell that was Hurricane Harvey—and the lingering anxiety. This is her story, but it's also the story of so many others in TX and around the world as climate change strains our mental health.
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Texas had its hottest December since at.least 1889 last month. Combined with low precipitation, 17% of Texas is now in an extreme drought, per state's water conditions report:
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Very good reminder that readers aren't limited to residents. Readers are also managers and CEOs who don't want their company's name to show up in the newspaper.
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I asked as many lawyers as I could about tort law yesterday, because it’s how the near total ban on abortion in Texas will be enforced. This is what they told me: .
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Climate change enhances heat waves & increases minimum temps in TX, meaning it stays hotter longer for longer into the evening. April-June was Texas’ warmest such period on record. For Texans experiencing homelessness, it's not just inconveniently hot, it's dangerous. THREAD:.
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The @TexasTribune is documenting the local effects of climate change. So, we want to hear from you!. What are you and your families experiencing? What are you already doing to protect your communities? What *should* the government do?. Take our survey:
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About 100 people just walked out of the Ann Coulter event in protest at CU Boulder. @CSUCollegian
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This week reminded me, as a reporter:.- don't assume you know what you're doing (even if you've done it before).- don't assume you know where you're going (even if you've been there before).- don't assume you know anything about anything/anyone (even if you've learned it before).
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Climate change has made the Texas heat worse, with less relief at night, a report from the state's climatologist notes today. That's a big problem for the state's infrastructure, and here's why:.
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ERCOT acknowledged that there’s no requirement to prepare power infrastructure for such low temps. “It’s a voluntary guideline to decide to do those things,” said one official. "There are financial incentives to stay online, but there is no regulation at this point.”.
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That's why TCEQ asked for ~$8M from the #txlege to create a lead and copper testing and action program. The proposed Senate and House budgets dedicate $7.1M. It's unclear whether the federal govt may help fund the initiative—TCEQ director called it an "unfunded federal mandate.".
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Texas can move forward with a plan to build a network of hundreds of electric vehicle charging locations across the state, following Federal Highway Administration approval Tuesday. More:
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Earlier this year, Texas said as part of updated water standards that it would crack down on chemical companies that release microplastics into the environment. Regulators are expected to vote on the standards today but that paragraph has now been struck.
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The $16 million Uvalde fund for the families of the victims of the shooting is still months away from distributing most of its money, @ujohnnyg reports. In the meantime, some families of the victims are in financial distress. Read this important story:
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ICYMI: Texas leaders knew winter storms could leave the grid vulnerable but left the choice to prepare up to power companies. That, plus a market largely isolated from the rest of the country's grid, contributed to the crisis: w/ @McGeeReports @jsmccullou.
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Remember when falling tree limbs knocked the power out all over Austin? . We filed a public records request for tree-trimming data. Both the total miles of trees trimmed and number of properties trimmed have generally declined. Data obtained by @carla_astudi
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About 8,000 MW of power, or more than 70% of the outages, are from thermal power sources. Thermal power in Texas = mostly natural gas. This is more than double what ERCOT usually sees offline for thermal generation maintenance during a typical summer day.
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