Vista Ridge: San Antonio Signs on to Questionable and Expensive Water Project
On October 30, after more than four hours of citizen testimony, San Antonio City Council approved a contract between San Antonio Water System (SAWS) and Abengoa, a Spanish developer, to develop a 140-mile water pipeline project called Vista Ridge. Despite hearing from a plethora of opposition voices both from San Antonio and from the area where the groundwater will be mined, such as Lee County (includes Burleson and Bastrop Counties as well), Council voted unanimously to move into the “development” phase of the project. Council heard from dozens of citizens and grassroots groups, including the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club, Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, Southwest Workers’ Union, and others. Individuals representing groups such as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and San Antonio Chamber of Commerce spoke separately in favor of the $3 billion water project that will raise rates for San Antonio residents and deplete the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer. As we noted in our action alert from earlier in the week, the city may not even need the water. The Sierra Club, along with many other organizations and individuals have been raising many legitimate questions of both SAWS and the City about Vista Ridge. To read our call to action, click here. Also check out this excellent piece in TribTalk, and the Alamo Group’s great compilation of information. The project will now seek all needed permits, rights of way, easements, etc. Stay tuned.
2015 Legislative Workshop for Environmental Advocates, Nov 8-9!
The next legislative session is right around the corner. Hopefully, by now you’ve either voted early or have a plan to vote. But your work as an environmental advocate doesn’t end on Election Day. The election winners will soon be at work and we need your help fighting for a healthy environment! The Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter invites you to its 2015 Texas Legislative Workshop for Environmental Advocates, November 8-9, at McKinney Roughs Nature Park. Register now to prepare to defend clean air, clean water, renewable energy, recycling, and parks and wildlife during the 84th legislative session.
Comptroller’s Anti-Renewables Report Gets Swift Rebuke
When we heard that Texas Comptroller Susan Combs published an anti-renewables report recently, we thought it might be a long and arduous read, well supplied with solid facts, figures, and a methodology only energy geeks would salivate over to criticize. After all, it’s the Comptroller’s Office, right? You’d expect a solidly researched report replete with thorough analyses based on solid data. It’s nothing like that. It’s 16 pages comprised almost entirely of bullet points and infographics that a staffer with an agenda would find all-too-easy to pluck out of context for his/her boss to use against renewables during the next session.
Railroad Commission Wastewater Injection Well Rule, More Needs to Be Done
Earlier this week, the Railroad Commission adopted a wastewater injection well rule for fracking operations requiring some additional information for those applying for underground injection disposal permits. However, the adopted rule fell far short of what Sierra Club recommended to protect landowners against induced seismic activity. Read the RRC press release here. Earlier this month, we wrote that Texas regulators still have a long way to go to protect Texans from the dangers of oil and gas development exacerbated by the dramatic rise of fracking and that’s still true. ShaleTest, an independent environmental research agency, released a report recently that found unsafe levels of cancer-causing benzene, a common byproduct in oil and gas drilling operations, on playgrounds in the City of Denton, among other places. Meanwhile, the Railroad Commission has only begun to take limited action to address earthquakes caused by injecting waste from oil and gas operations into wells.
Texas Renewables 2014 "Shaping Texas' Evolving Energy Markets"
TREIA is not slowing down after the Roundup! Registration for Texas Renewables 2014 is open! Cyrus Reed, conservation director for the Lone Star Chapter, will be a featured speaker at this year's event, which will be held at the Sheraton Dallas, November 3-6. Reed will be part of the panel discussion Texas Policy Landscape: Greening Up or Deepening Drought? on Tuesday, November 4, at 10:45am. Check out this handy dandy flyer and agenda for more information. Registration fees and volunteer information can be found right here.
Sierra Club Suggests Specific Funding for Invasives Control, Park Grants for Parks & Wildlife
As the next legislative session approaches, the battle lines of agency budgets are being drawn by the Legislative Budget Board. Each agency submits a Legislation Appropriations Request, or LAR, which asks the Legislature for funding for 2016-2017. The Lone Star Chapter recently submitted comments supporting specific funding for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for local park grants, wildlife diversity, park acquisition and development and invasive species control.
Once a Leader, Texas Now Ranks 34th in Energy Efficiency
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy – or ACEEE (“A-C-Triple E”) for short – unveiled the 8th edition of its State Efficiency Scorecard recently, and once again, Texas languishes far back in the pack with other under-performing states on its energy efficiency policies and outcomes. Falling one position from 2013, Texas ranked 34th out of 51 (DC included) states in the annual ranking of the progress of state energy efficiency policies and programs. Can our state be a leader again? Short answer: heck yeah!
Financing Sustainable Water – More Than Just Ideas
People throughout Texas are supportive of reducing water use through water conservation and drought contingency measures – due in large part to Texas’ growing population and crippling drought. The big question that gets asked is how can a water utility sustain itself if it encourages its customers to use less of its product? The solutions don’t lend themselves to quick and easy explanations, which is why the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, in conjunction with the Texas Living Waters Project, is co-hosting a one-day seminar in Houston and Dallas to help utilities navigate the challenges of scarce supply, volatile weather, and declining demand. Financing Sustainable Water is designed to be a “how we can actually do this” gathering of water resource professionals.
Austin to Begin Negotiations with LCRA on Future of Fayette Coal Plant
On October 16, passing on consent, Austin City Council directed Austin Energy to immediately begin negotiations with the Lower Colorado River Authority for better operational control of Austin’s share of the coal-fired Fayette Power Project, the fifth largest emitter of climate-disrupting carbon dioxide pollution in the entire state of Texas. Under the resolution sponsored by Mayor Pro-Tem Sheryl Cole, and co-sponsored by Council members Chris Riley and Bill Spelman, Austin Energy will report back to Council both at upcoming Austin Energy Committee meetings, as well as to the new City Council in January. Conservation Director Cyrus Reed issued a statement of support after the resolution was adopted.
Call to Serve: Nominations for Lone Star Chapter Executive Committee Open Until November 14
The Nominations Committee of the Lone Star Chapter has reached out to local groups seeking recommendations for potential Chapter Executive Committee (Ex-Com) At-Large nominees who would be considered by the Committee for inclusion on a candidate slate this fall. At-Large Ex-Com members are elected by the entire Chapter membership and serve for a term of three years. The Nominations Committee has been reviewing the qualifications and commitment of potential nominees as part of the vetting process.
Regional Round-up
- Texas Parks & Wildlife is accepting comments on revisions to its threatened and endangered species rules. Not too many surprises. Mostly syncing it up with the federal listing. The margay, however, is being taken off the list because it hasn’t been spotted in Texas since the 19th century. Scroll down this link for a quick snapshot of the changes. Also check out the comments page for proposed updates to endangered, threatened, and protected native plants.
- By far, the most popular post on our Facebook page in October was about a proposed high-speed rail route between Houston and Dallas. From the Dallas Morning News, “The 240-mile project, which could be the first high-speed rail line in America, is expected to get people between the two cities in 90 minutes. If funding is secured and federal approval granted, the train could be running by 2021.”
- In addition to the Vista Ridge controversy, San Antonio also signed on to "clean coal" again as early as 2019 from Summit Power.
- The Austin office is looking for more interns! There is a new opening for a Social Media Intern with flexible dates starting as early as right now! Also check out our other internship opportunities in the following areas: Media & Communications, Political Engagement, and Community Outreach.
- Speaking of Austin, the Sierra Club welcomed two new staffers in October. Mayté (like My-tay) Salazar, who helped to establish a low-income advisory task force in Austin, is now an Apprentice with the Beyond Coal Campaign. Dr. Tane Ward, a long time Indigenous Rights activist who has worked extensively with community groups in Austin for more than ten years, is the new Organizing Manager for the Beyond Coal Campaign in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
- A sold-out crowd of more than 250 people attended the first ever "Earth, Wind, and Fire Energy Summit" earlier this month in Dallas, Texas. National Sierra Club has the wrap up.
Message From Director Scheleen Walker
Pardon the cliché, but life is full of surprises. As some of you already know, I have accepted another job with Travis County and my term as the Lone Star Chapter’s Director ends this month. I have enjoyed working with so many dedicated and friendly volunteers, members, and supporters, as well as our superior staff and committee members. I am proud of the organizational changes we have been able to make over the past two years, including a revamped website; the monthly e-newsletter; a new committee structure; and substantial grant funding. I will miss working with you in my capacity as Chapter Director, but I will not stop – I will never stop – working to make Texas a better place to live. I am returning to the Transportation and Natural Resources department as the county’s Long Range Planning Manager where I will use my planning degree to direct future plans for physical development throughout unincorporated Travis County, including parks and open spaces, water quality, and natural resource protections. As the Executive Committee searches for a new director, Conservation Director Cyrus Reed, will fill in as Acting Director. I have the utmost confidence in Cyrus and our stellar chapter staff as the transition to new leadership gets underway. Finally, dear supporters and defenders of the environment, the Sierra Club is the greatest grassroots environmental organization in the world thanks to YOU, and Texas is fortunate to have you on her side. I speak not only for myself, but for all of us in the Austin office, thank you for all you do! Please, stay in touch!
Scheleen Walker, Director
Lone Star Chapter