Hazy Shade of Summer
Sarah Sharif, conservation organizer with the Beyond Coal Campaign, recently travelled to Washington, DC, along with volunteers from Arkansas and Texas to pay a visit to Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) headquarters. She met with her and her staff on November 26 to discuss the importance of a strong haze rule to protect our national parks and refuges and to submit 9,000 locals voicing their concern. Shortly thereafter, the EPA announced a plan to reduce air pollution in national parks in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, which we support.
Lone Star Chapter Wins CATEE Award!
The Lone Star Chapter received the Outstanding Non-Profit Organization Award at CATEE 2014. Cyrus Reed and several DFW-area Sierra Club leaders were on hand at the CATEE conference in Dallas to accept the award presented by the Energy Systems Laboratory of Texas A&M University. First of all, you may be asking, "what's CATEE?" Second question you may be asking, "what's this award all about?" Third question is probably something like, "why did the Lone Star Chapter receive this award?"
Clean Air Success in Texas: Ozone Milestones with Neil Carmen
As a kid, I remember ozone being a good thing. There was a layer of it in the stratosphere that protected us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, but it was being destroyed by our use of chlorofluorocarbons like those found in aerosol sprays (remember aerosol deodorants?). But ozone*, a molecule of three oxygen atoms, is quite harmful to humans at ground level, which is why the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set limits on it.
Next Steps for San Antonio’s Vista Ridge Project
Last month, the San Antonio City Council unanimously voted to move forward with the Vista Ridge Project that plans to bring 50,000 acre-feet of groundwater from Burleson County to the city. Because of our many concerns with this project, the vote was a disappointment, but last Thursday’s Council deliberation did stir some positives worth discussing. Tyson Broad, Water Research Associate, penned this great blog post with the assistance of Amy Hardberger, Assistant Professor of Law at St. Mary’s University.
The Denton Fracking Ban: A Community Organizing Success Story
Without a doubt, the best environmental news from November’s election in Texas was the City of Denton voting to ban new fracking in the city. The proposition passed by roughly 17%, with 58.64% voting yes and 41.36% voting no. Predictably, however, almost immediately after the vote, pro-fracking interests moved to try to stop it in what marks the next great battle in the struggle over a city's right to protect its citizens. While the impending legal challenges cast a shadow over the victory in Denton, grassroots groups who fought hard and overcame a well-funded opposition campaign fueled by money from outside interest groups recognized this as a significant moment.
ICYMI: ERCOT Finally Values Peak Wind Capacity Using Actual Data
For the last five years, the Sierra Club has been in a healthy discussion at ERCOT (Electric Reliable Council of Texas) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas over how to calculate the value of wind energy during peak demand. Opponents of wind still use an antiquated yet lingering criticism that it tends to generate electricity mostly at night and not when Texas needs it the most – on hot summer afternoons. The state’s grid operator just assumed all wind generation had the same value at peak. Thanks in part to our efforts this isn’t the case anymore.
Carman Weighs in on Toxic Eagle Ford Air Near San Antonio
If you live in San Antonio, you may have caught KENS 5's great investigative report by Barry Davis on toxic air from fracking operations last week, TCEQ Memo Proves Toxic Chemicals Are Being Released in the Eagle Ford Shale. Our own Neil Carman, Clean Air Director, was interviewed for this piece that everyone concerned about fracking should see.
First Ever Texas Energy Storage Summit Scheduled for December 5
The Energy Storage Association (ESA) is hosting the first ever Texas Energy Storage Summit, in Austin, TX on December 5, 2014. This unique one-day summit brings together stakeholders from across Texas and around the country to meet for an informative and collaborative event that brings an in-depth focus on the opportunities and markets available in Texas and the ERCOT system. Attendees will have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with Texas and ERCOT regulators, as well as utility partners and customers, to gain a full understanding of this market opportunity and what lies ahead for storage in the state. Oh, and Sierra Club members get a $50 discount!
Regional Round-up
- The City of Austin is conducting an Imagine Austin Speaker Series panel discussion on the evening of Wednesday, December 10 that the Joe C. Thompson Conference Center at the UT Campus, located at 2405 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, Texas 78712 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM and the event starts at 7 PM)
- There was a deadly accident at the DuPont chemical facility in La Porte that killed four people. Neil Carman provided insight into why neither DuPont nor the TCEQ addressed the danger before it became lethal. Bottom line: there are just too many worse problems at facilities along the Ship Channel.
- Ken Kramer, the Lone Star Chapter’s director for more than 23 years, sat down with the Texas Tribune to talk water and the next legislative session set to kick off in January.
- While many across Texas support the plan to build high-speed rail from Houston to Dallas, there are concerns from residents along the proposed routes about noise level, dividing farm land, and lower property values.
Director's Message
Even though the midterm election results did not go well for the environment, November had its positive moments. Denton residents voted to ban new fracking, the EPA moved to improve the visibility in national parks, which also will have health and environmental benefits, and Oncor announced it would invest $2 billion in energy storage in Texas. Progress is being made, but major challenges lie ahead at every level, especially the legislature. In early November, we held a workshop for environmental advocates that was well attended and constructive. I came away from the two-day retreat enthusiastic and focused. Our agenda for the 84th Legislature is full of ideas and strategies on how we can keep making progress on fracking safeguards, water conservation, clean energy, and wilderness areas even in the face of well-funded polluters. But I’m excited not just because of that. I’m excited because I get to work with volunteer leaders from across Texas who are just as motivated as I am to improve our state and protect it for generations to come. If you’re interested in joining us, sign up and welcome aboard!
Cyrus Reed, Conservation Director
Lone Star Chapter