texas

‘Unsurvivable Storm Surge’ Expected as Hurricane Laura Hits Gulf Coast With 150 mph Winds

‘Unsurvivable Storm Surge’ Expected as Hurricane Laura Hits Gulf Coast With 150 mph Winds

In the middle of the night, Hurricane Laura made landfall, hitting the Gulf Coast in Louisiana with record-setting 150 mph winds, according to the National Hurricane Center, which warned of an “unsurvivable” storm surge. “Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, […]

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    Will High-Speed Rail Ever Get on Track in the U.S.?

    Will High-Speed Rail Ever Get on Track in the U.S.?

    By Jeff Turrentine Is it just us? Other countries don’t seem to have a problem getting their high-speed rail systems on track. This superfast, fuel-efficient form of mass transit is wildly popular throughout Asia and the European Union. Japan’s sleek Shinkansen line, the busiest high-speed rail system in the world, carries an estimated 420,000 riders […]

    All Coal-Fired Power Plants in Texas Found Leaking Toxins Into Groundwater

    All Coal-Fired Power Plants in Texas Found Leaking Toxins Into Groundwater

    Power plants across Texas are leaching toxins into groundwater, according to new research. A report released this week from the Environmental Integrity Project found that all of the state’s 16 coal-fired power plants are leaching contaminants from coal ash into the ground, and almost none of the plants are properly lining their pits to prevent […]

    Warning: A ‘Shrinking Window’ of Usable Groundwater

    Warning: A ‘Shrinking Window’ of Usable Groundwater

    By Tara Lohan We’re living beyond our means when it comes to groundwater. That’s probably not news to everyone, but new research suggests that, deep underground in a number of key aquifers in some parts of the U.S., we may have much less water than previously thought. “We found that the average depth of water […]

    9 Renewable Energy Highlights of 2018

    9 Renewable Energy Highlights of 2018

    By Jeff Deyette Despite the Trump administration’s ongoing attempts to prop up coal and undermine renewables—at FERC, EPA and through tariffs and the budget process—2018 should instead be remembered for the surge in momentum toward a clean energy economy. Here are nine storylines that caught my attention this past year and help illustrate the unstoppable […]

    Fracking in 2018: Another Year of Pretending to Make Money

    Fracking in 2018: Another Year of Pretending to Make Money

    By Justin Mikulka 2018 was the year the oil and gas industry promised that its darling, the shale fracking revolution, would stop focusing on endless production and instead turn a profit for its investors. But as the year winds to a close, it’s clear that hasn’t happened. Instead, the fracking industry has helped set new […]

    The Best and Worst Midterm Results for the Environment

    The Best and Worst Midterm Results for the Environment

    Results from the U.S. midterm election are mostly in, and, when it comes to what they mean for the environment, they’re a real mixed bag. On the plus side, the Democrats took the House of Representatives, which, as BBC News pointed out, means that President Donald Trump can’t pass any more major legislation without their […]

    Why Plans to Turn America’s Rust Belt Into a New Plastics Belt Are Bad News for the Climate

    Why Plans to Turn America’s Rust Belt Into a New Plastics Belt Are Bad News for the Climate

    By Sharon Kelly The petrochemical industry anticipates spending a total of over $200 billion on factories, pipelines, and other infrastructure in the U.S. that will rely on shale gas, the American Chemistry Council announced in September. Construction is already underway at many sites. This building spree would dramatically expand the Gulf Coast’s petrochemical corridor (known […]