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Among city-owned utilties, San Antonio's CPS Energy is the largest purchaser of wind energy. Increasingly, energy efficiency and solar power are being integrated into the mix. And some high-profile energy projects are already changing the way the world views the Alamo City. Recently named a U.S. Solar America City by the U.S. Department of Energy, San Antonio is on the cusp of transforming its energy economy is dramatic ways. However, with a new coal plant scheduled to come online next year and efforts to double the size of a nuclear complex on the coast, debate over the role of traditional power sources remain.

Tips on Promoting Good Energy Practices

• Join more than 500 businesses working to bring non-polluting renewable energy to Texas.
• Mow down smog when you care for your lawn.
• Become a Peak Saver! Get your free, programmable thermostat from CPS Energy.
• A big part of going green is using only what you need. So ditch energy-wasting incandescent bulbs and let CPS give you a rebate for switching to compact flourescent bulbs.
• When replacing your appliances, buy only the highest rated Energy Star products.
• Get a home energy audit and learn about green-building practices.

Texas Wind Plans Advance Despite Pickens Retreat

January 15, 2010 · A move by billionaire oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens to cut his order for wind turbines and to postpone construction of a huge wind farm in Texas isn't a sign that the appetite for wind electricity in the state has diminished, a wind advocate said on Friday. [Source: Reuters] -more-

Wind Power May Power Nuclear Weapons Facility

January 12, 2010 · Texas Tech University and officials of the Pantex nuclear weapons plant agree to study feasibility of research wind farm to power the Panhandle plant. The agreement between Pantex and Texas Tech provides for a feasibility study on the installation of wind turbine generators and related infrastructure at the Pantex plant near Amarillo. The plant assembles and dismantles the nation's nuclear warheads. [Source: Houston Chronicle] -more-

Gone to Texas: Shale Gas Bringing Majors Back to Texas

January 11, 2010 · Why are the major oil companies coming back into Texas?

Recently, Exxon Mobil Corp. announced it would pay $41 billion for Fort Worth-based XTO Energy Inc., and Total, an integrated oil and gas company with headquarters in France, announced a $2.25 billion deal with Chesapeake Energy Corp. Both of these deals involve acquisition of unconventional natural gas reserves in the Barnett Shale in North Texas.

Just 15 years ago, the major oil companies were the big players in natural gas production in Texas. According to Railroad Commission of Texas records, Exxon Corp. produced the most natural gas in Texas in 1994 with an average daily production of 667,132 thousand cubic feet.  Mobil was No. 2 with 605,653 Mcf.

Eight of the top 10 natural gas producers in Texas in 1994 were major oil and gas producers. Only Enron and Pennzoil (some industry experts might consider Enron and Pennzoil integrated major companies) in the top 10 producers were not officially classified as a major. Out of the 7,565,347 Mcf of daily gas production in Texas, 59 percent, or about 4,500,000 Mcf per day, came from the majors. [Source: Fort Worth Business Press] -more-

Dispute Over 'Fracking' For Natural Gas

January 8, 2010 · Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," uses water and an array of chemicals to push apart underground rock formations, releasing natural gas for collection. Environmental groups want more regulation of the chemicals used in fracking; industry groups say more rules aren't necessary. -more-

Rural Residents Worry about Barnett Shale Disposal Wells

December 26, 2009 · The disposal wells, and the possibility of other groundwater contamination related to gas drilling, are a big concern for the Johnsons and some other Parker County residents. The Johnsons get their water from a well, and if there’s any pollution of the aquifer, their land becomes essentially useless unless they can find another water source. [Source: Fort Worth Star- Telegram] -more-

CPS Seeks $32 Billion in STP Damages

December 24, 2009 · Nuclear Innovation North America, CPS Energy's partner, claimed San Antonio's utility was in breach of contract and should lose the hundreds of millions it invested if it didn't agree soon to keep funding the deal.

NINA, which is a nuclear development joint venture between NRG Energy and Toshiba Inc., made the accusations in a response late Wednesday afternoon to a lawsuit CPS filed earlier this month. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

An Electric 'Game Changer' Gets FERC Scrutiny

December 23, 2009 · A proposal to move large amounts of wind and solar power out of the Southwest by linking the three separate North American electricity grids with state-of-the-art switching terminals and superconducting cables is now in hands of federal regulators. [Source: New York Times] -more-

Texas Panhandle's Palo Duro Canyon at Center of Debate Over Wind-Power Transmission Lines

December 20, 2009 · Sharyland Utilities, a unit of Hunt Consolidated, is one of the companies building a web of transmission lines to bring West Texas wind power to Dallas and other big cities. Environmentalists say that's good.

But Sharyland has proposed stringing one of the lines across the Palo Duro Canyon. Environmentalists say that's bad. Under three of five basic scenarios, the line would go from rim to rim of the second-largest canyon in the country.

This infuriates the Currie family – the owners, caretakers and developers of part of the canyon for more than a century. The Curries, who could play host to the transmission line unless regulators choose to go around the canyon, point to eagle nesting grounds, American Indian burial grounds and fire hazards in the canyon.

[Source: Dallas Morning News] -more-

Underused Drilling Practices Could Avoid Pollution

December 14, 2009 · As environmental concerns threaten to derail natural gas drilling projects across the country, the energy industry has developed innovative ways to make it easier to exploit the nation's reserves without polluting air and drinking water.

Energy companies have figured out how to drill wells with fewer toxic chemicals, enclose wastewater so it can't contaminate streams and groundwater, and sharply curb emissions from everything from truck traffic to leaky gas well valves. Some of their techniques also make good business sense because they boost productivity and ultimately save the industry money -- $10,000 per well in some cases. [Source: ProPublica] -more-

100 New Wind Turbines Turning in West Texas

December 15, 2009 · The steel giants that recently altered the landscape in the area have begun generating electricity for commercial use. The Langford Wind Farm along U.S. Highway 277 extends south through southern Tom Green, Schleicher and Irion counties. It started commercial operations on Dec. 9. The wind farm’s 100 turbine generators, which can produce 1.5 megawatts each, are expected to generate more than 525,000 MW hours of wind energy per year. The energy produced will be sold into the Electric Reliability Council of Texas system. Padoma Wind Power LLC, the wind development arm of NRG Energy, built the $260 million farm over the course of nine months. [Source: San Angelo Standard-Times] -more-

Houston Solar Energy Plant in Limbo

December 14, 2009 · A joint project between the City of Houston and NRG Energy Inc. to build the largest solar farm in Texas has been put on indefinite hold. The New Jersey-based company and Houston officials struck a deal earlier this year for a 25-year power purchase agreement in exchange for NRG paying for the $40 million northwest Houston project. Now, city officials want to sign annual contracts instead of a long-term agreement. [Source: Impact News] -more-

Nuclear 'Renaissance' Held Up by Fight Between DOE and OMB

November 16, 2009 · The awards of $18.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for new nuclear plant projects remain held up by an ongoing dispute within the Obama administration over the financial risk the new reactors pose for the government and taxpayers, according to industry and government officials. The struggle pits the Energy Department against the Office of Management and Budget, agencies that have been at odds since the loan guarantee program was approved in 2005. DOE will make the final decision on nuclear project loan guarantee requests. OMB has a pivotal say in determining the risk of loan defaults if the projects suffer cost overruns or cannot be completed. [Source: The New York Times] -more-

Health Issues Follow Natural Gas Drilling In Texas

November 3, 2009 · Vast new natural gas fields have opened up thanks to an advanced drilling technique. While natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than coal or petroleum, extracting it is still hard, dirty work. Some people who live near the massive Barnett Shale gas deposit in north Texas, have compliants. Health and environmental concerns are prompting state regulators to take a closer look. -more-

Is There Energy To Slow Climate Change?

October 30, 2009 · If global warming's worst effects are to be averted, new energy sources must be developed on a massive scale. But there will be winners and losers in that process. Sarah Gardner and Sam Eaton take us to two locales with stakes in America's energy future. -more-

Clean Energy Touted As Good For Planet And Jobs

October 28, 2009 · Officials from the Obama administration are out in force this week making the case for clean energy as a way to create jobs and help the planet. The push comes as the Senate begins to consider an energy bill that would crack down on carbon pollution from traditional fossil fuels. It also comes just weeks before a global climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. -more-

Nuclear cost estimate rises by as much as $4 billion

October 28, 2009 · The estimated cost of two new nuclear reactors proposed by CPS Energy has gone up as much as $4 billion, prompting the City Council to postpone Thursday's vote on the project's financing until January.

CPS officials and Mayor Julián Castro, flanked by every council member except David Medina, held a hastily arranged news conference Tuesday afternoon announcing the delay.

CPS interim General Manager Steve Bartley said the utility's main contractor on the project, Toshiba Inc., informed officials that the cost of the reactors would be “substantially greater” than CPS' estimate of $13 billion, which includes financing. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Wave Power Desalination Plant Coming Soon to Texas

October 23, 2009 · This month, the state of Texas granted its first-ever offshore lease for a wave-powered energy system to Renew Blue's Seadog Pump. The system, which will be used to power a desalination plant for ocean water, is more than halfway constructed; its executives expect it to be up and running by the winter. PM sat down with Mark Thomas, founder and CEO of Renew Blue, to talk about how this technology works, whether wave power will ever be competitive with wind and solar and why it has failed to be successful so far. [Source: Popular Mechanics] -more-

Scientists: Biofuel Laws May Harm Environment

October 23, 2009 · Researchers writing in the current issue of Science believe they have found an error in existing biofuel laws that could actually make climate change worse. They say these rules inadvertently encourage deforestation, which in turn contributes to global warming. -more-

Austin Solar Program Would Front Costs For Homeowners

October 20, 2009 · The total cost to the homeowner to install this system is right around $20,000. With all the rebates that are in place, the price tag works out to be less than half. Still, city leaders say that's too much for many people. So Tuesday, they announced a new program where the homeowner wouldn't have any upfront costs. "The basic structure is this -- the government or the city would loan you money for a solar system or major energy efficiency repairs. Then you would repay that loan in increments in property taxes," said Karl Rabago, vice president of Austin Energy. [Source: KVUE-Austin] -more-

The Dilemma of Aging Nuclear Plants

October 19, 2009 · Contractors generally designed plants to last for 40 years — a standard enshrined in the United States in the adoption by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or N.R.C., of a 40-year licensing regime. A large part of the world’s installed nuclear power capacity is now coming to the end of that designed life span. [Source: New York Times] -more-

Without Pigs, Cairo Looks For Solar Garbage Fix

October 18, 2009 · Early this summer, amid fears of the spread of swine flu, the Egyptian government ordered the slaughter of some 250,000 pigs in Cairo. The pigs used to eat much of the city's garbage. Now a non-profit organization called Solar Cities is looking to put all that extra organic waste to use—-by turning it into natural gas. -more-

CPS Energy Approves Nuclear Expansion Plan

October 14, 2009 · After weeks of a public campaign discussing need for greater nuclear energy for San Antonio’s future, the CPS Energy Board voted Tuesday to seek expansion of the South Texas Nuclear Project. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has the story. -more-

Kenya's Biofuel Plan Hits Snags

October 12, 2009 · Kenya has embraced a hardy bush called jatropha curcas as the heart of a nascent biofuel industry. Proponents predict a future in which jatropha oil will power commercial jets and cars. But in Kenya, where the government has encouraged farmers to plant jatropha, things aren't going so well. -more-

State Rep Says Austin Energy Green Plan Not at Odds With Low-Income Community

October 12, 2009 · State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez is organizing a community energy forum to hash out concerns raised by the Catholic Diocese of Austin that an Austin Energy plan to increase the use of renewable sources could hurt the poor.

The forum Saturday will discuss plans to triple the amount of green energy used by the utility.

Rodriguez and many of the city's environmental activists say the diocese raised a worthwhile point — but also wrongly framed the issue as poor people versus green energy.

"As an Austin Energy customer, as someone who cares about the environment, as a Catholic, and as a state legislator who represents a largely low-income constituency," Rodriguez wrote on his campaign Web site, " ... the idea that we must choose between having clean, affordable energy or protecting the poor is a false dilemma — one that's especially disingenuous considering that the poor are disproportionately affected by the impacts of dirty energy." [Source: Austin American-Statemen] -more-

Southern Co. Unit to Buy Texas Biomass Project

October 9, 2009 · Southern Co. said Friday that a subsidiary’s purchase of a planned biomass power plant in Texas fits the Atlanta-based company’s goal of developing cost-effective renewable energy sources. But a clean energy advocacy organization said Southern could do more in its Southeast service area to develop renewables.

The subsidiary, Southern Power, is buying Nacogdoches Power from biomass fuel plant developer American Renewables, which launched the 100-megawatt Nacogdoches project. Southern said it will complete construction of the facility which will be one of the largest biomass electricity plants in the U.S. when it becomes operational in 2012. The plant will generate energy from forest residue, wood processing residue and municipal wood waste, Southern said. [Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution] -more-

Texas Nuclear Power Plant Expansion Moving Forward

October 9, 2009 · Sunshine and wind may be plentiful in Texas, but they aren't enough to power the city of San Antonio, according to officials backing a $13 billion effort to expand a South Texas nuclear plant into the largest in the nation. [Source: Houston Chronicle] -more-

San Antonio is Developing Sustainable-Energy Plan for Future

October 2, 2009 · The City of San Antonio and CPS Energy released a report Friday outlining a broad-based strategy aimed at developing sustainable energy in the Alamo City. The report calls for the city and the utility to take steps to invest in new, decentralized forms of energy. This will mean more of an investment in renewable energy; the development of buildings that generate their own power; hydrogen storage of renewable energy; and smart grids and plug-in vehicles. [Source: San Antonio Business Journal] -more-

World's Largest Wind Farm Operating in West Texas

October 1, 2009 · The world's largest wind farm officially got up and running Thursday, with all 627 towering wind turbines churning out electricity across 100,000 acres of West Texas farmland.

The Roscoe Wind Complex, which began construction in 2007 and sprawls across four counties near Roscoe, is generating its full capacity of 781.5 megawatts, enough to power 230,000 homes, the German company E.ON Climate and Renewables North America said. [Source: Associated Press] -more-

Local Solar Farm Possible for San Angelo

September 30, 2009 · Terra-Gen Power, LLC, a New York renewable energy company focused on geothermal, wind and solar generation developments, is looking to tap Concho Valley sunshine as a power source. The company has acquired an option to lease 1,260 acres of land owned by the city of San Angelo east of town on U.S. 67 N. [Source: San Angelo Standard-Times] -more-

Nukes Mean Mines: Are We Digging a New Toxic Legacy Before the Last One’s Filled In?

September 15, 2009 · A string of lakes across Karnes County sparkle as blue as any found in the resort towns of Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Each is graced with the gentle slope of a nearby hill, where wildlife forages on its way to and from the waterline. These former mine sites were blasted open during the uranium boom that swept South Texas in the 1950s and '60s, when the U.S. military was racing to keep pace with the growing Soviet atomic-bomb program and the newborn Atomic Energy Commission was struggling to develop beneficial uses for the monstrously destructive power we had tapped.

Today, 17 of Texas' earliest open-pit mines remain abandoned on private property. Land owners like to fish these man-made water features. More than a few have learned to water-ski here, despite the fact that the Texas Railroad Commission has found the sites to be emitting abnormally high levels of cancer-causing radiation. [Source: San Antonio Current] -more-

Can Solar Energy Pay Off Without Subsidies?

September 15, 2009 · Because of a combination of government subsidies and a flood of cheaper solar panels on the market, more businesses are finding it possible to power their buildings by the sun. But critics say all of those subsidies mean solar power isn't so competitive. -more-

Energy Sec. Chu: If It's Coal Vs. Nuclear, 'I'd Rather Be Living' Near A Nuke Plant

September 11, 2009 · Energy Secretary Steven Chu says he'd rather have a nuclear power plant next door than a coal-fired one. -more-

Roasted Wood: An Alternative To Coal Energy?

September 10, 2009 · Utility companies are racing to find alternative fuels to generate electricity — and one new possible source is also one of the oldest: burning wood. The process of torrefaction, or roasting wood and other biomass, is already gaining momentum in Europe. -more-

China, U.S. to Dominate Solar Market

September 10, 2009 · The United States and China are in a head-to-head race to become the world's top market for solar power, and panel makers are wasting no time making plans to cash in on the growth promise of both markets despite the global recession.

At the Reuters Global Climate and Alternative Energy Summit this week, Chinese and U.S. solar companies including Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd (STP.N), SunPower Corp (SPWRA.O), Trina Solar Ltd (TSL.N) and BrightSource Energy Inc laid out plans to capture their share of what is expected to be explosive demand for solar-generated electricity in the world's biggest and third biggest economies.

The U.S. and China lag far behind Europe in demand for solar power, but are expected to vault ahead in the next few years as both nation's work to curb their emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.. [Source: Reuters>] -more-

Bills to Rise Without Nuke Investment

September 6, 2009 · During the 1970s energy crisis, San Antonio leaders were outraged when a company owned by oilman Oscar Wyatt refused to honor natural-gas contracts at a time when gas was the only fuel that fired San Antonio's power plants.

Wyatt's company jacked up natural gas prices, sending electricity bills sharply higher. But city leaders' fury had little effect.

CPS Energy already had signed on as a partner to build the South Texas Project nuclear plant, but it would be 1988 before the plant started sending power to San Antonio.

It was a tough lesson learned. San Antonio and city-owned CPS Energy vowed to further diversify the fuels needed to produce electricity. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

DOE Awards $114 million Cash Grant to South Texas Wind Farm

September 1, 2009 · The U.S. Department of Energy announced this morning that it awarded its first (and probably largest) renewable energy cash-assistance grants. The funding was contained in the appropriation funded by the stimulus law. The largest grant, $114 million, was awarded to the Penascal Wind Farm, a controversial South Texas wind farm that battled opposition from environmentalists and the King Ranch on its way to operation. [Source: Dallas Morning-News] -more-

CPS Projections on Energy Needs Fueling Debate

August 23, 2009 · On June 26, a transformer unit failed at CPS Energy's coal-fired plant at Calaveras Lake, prompting a cascade of unwelcome events. The part's failure sparked an explosion that blew the doors off the building. Nobody was hurt, but it was the second accident at a CPS plant in about a week. Earlier, CPS shut down a natural gas plant at Braunig Lake when a turbine was damaged. To satisfy San Antonio's demand for power with two plants out on hotter-than-normal June days, CPS had to buy power — very expensive power — from the operator of the Texas grid. Customers saw those higher prices reflected in their bills this summer. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Nation’s First Industrial-Sized CO2 Burial Seeks Federal Funds

August 22, 2009 · American Electric Power wants $334 million in federal stimulus money to build the country's first commercial-scale system to capture carbon dioxide emitted from coal-fired power plants and bury it underground.The system would be used in New Haven, W.Va., at AEP's Mountaineer plant, home to one of the biggest fossil-fueled power generators in the world. [Source: The Columbus Dispatch] -more-

Energy Future Holdings' Plan to Expand Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant Must Face Hearing

August 22, 2009 · Several anti-nuclear groups and state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth have won a seat at the table when the Nuclear Regulatory Commission decides whether to grant Energy Future Holdings a license to expand a North Texas nuclear power plant. The decision means the NRC must hold a contested hearing after staff members have finished reviewing the company's application for a license to build and operate two new reactors at the Comanche Peak plant in Glen Rose. [Source: Dallas Morning News] -more-

How Austin is Trying to Spread Those Green Costs

August 21, 2009 · The Austin City Council took a small step Thursday toward making wind and solar power a part of every Austinites' life.

The council unanimously approved a lower price for GreenChoice, the landmark city program that sells wind-generated electricity to customers who choose to sign up for it. As part of that decision, the council also enacted a policy shift: spreading a small part of the wind-power cost among all customers, instead of exclusively among GreenChoice customers. [Source: Austin American-Statemen] -more-

Austin Energy Pushing Toward 35-percent Renewable by 2020, Causing Jitters

August 19, 2009 · Some large businesses, among Austin's biggest power users, say an electric utility plan to buy more renewable energy would be too costly and could damage the city's economy. They also warn that it could be more expensive than projected, considering the costs of two recent renewable energy deals.

Meanwhile, some environmental activists are lauding the proposal but say it doesn't go far enough. Under Austin Energy's proposal outlined Monday, Austin would get more than 35 percent of its electricity from wind, solar, wood waste and other renewable sources by 2020. Currently, about 12 percent of Austin's electricity comes from those sources. The city's Climate Protection Plan, passed in 2007, sets a target of 30 percent renewable energy by 2020. [Source: Austin American-Statemen] -more-

Oil Companies Back Protests of Emissions Bill

August 18, 2009 · Hard on the heels of the health care protests, another citizen movement seems to have sprung up, this one to oppose Washington’s attempts to tackle climate change. But behind the scenes, an industry with much at stake — Big Oil — is pulling the strings. Hundreds of people packed a downtown theater here on Tuesday for a lunchtime rally that was as much a celebration of oil’s traditional role in the Texas way of life as it was a political protest against Washington’s energy policies, which many here fear will raise energy prices. [Source: New York Times] -more-

Nuclear Fusion Can't Come Soon Enough

August 17, 2009 · Big oil and coal companies are using their trade associations to organize fake grass-roots protests against the climate bill working its way through Congress. Steve Henn reports. -more-

Push for Wind, Solar Power to Strain Grid

August 16, 2009 · President Barack Obama's push for wind and solar energy to wean the United States from foreign oil carries a hidden cost: overburdening the nation's electrical grid and increasing the threat of blackouts. The funding Obama devoted to get high-voltage lines ready for handling the additional load of alternative supplies is less than 5% of the $130 billion that power users, producers and the U.S. Energy Department say is needed. [Source: Bloomberg] -more-

Austin, San Antonio Plot Opposite Courses on Nuclear Power

August 16, 2009 · On Monday, Austin Energy is due to deliver a much-anticipated report on the city's long-term energy priorities. The report follows a series of town hall-style meetings that focused mainly on reducing Austin's dependence on fossil fuels in favor of cleaner sources such as wind and solar power. One word was little mentioned: nuclear. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, which also faces the challenges of a growing population and limited energy sources, discussion over future energy needs is shaping up much differently. [Source: Austin American-Statemen] -more-

The Bumpy Road to Nuclear Energy

August 13, 2009 · In 1974, President Nixon announced Project Independence – a plan to build 1,000 nuclear stations. But of the 253 reactors eventually ordered by the US electric industry, 71 were canceled before construction began, according to a tally by the antinuclear group Beyond Nuclear. Of the 182 construction permits granted by government commissions, 50 were abandoned in construction with billions in investment lost and 28 were closed before their 40-year licenses expired – including the Three Mile Island plant’s Unit 2. [Source: The Christian Science Monitor] -more-

Sentiments Mostly Against Nuclear Proposal

August 11, 2009 · CPS Energy officials answered every question put to them Monday night at Mayor Julián Castro's town hall meeting. But if they changed any minds about plans to vastly increase the city's investment in nuclear energy, it wasn't evident from the many passionate comments that followed. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Wind Power in Texas Actually Lowering Electricity Prices

August 11, 2009 · When the Wall Street Journal praises wind power for lowering electricity prices, you know we've reached a benchmark in renewable energy. A recent report from Bernstein Research, cited by a startled Journal blog post, concludes that in Texas, wind power may actually lower prices at certain times of day, by obviating the need to switch on costly natural-gas fired generators. [Source: Reuters] -more-

The Search For Green Power On And Off Of The Grid

August 7, 2009 · Hundreds of utilities around the U.S. — and a growing number of companies — are offering customers a chance to buy green power. Businesses use them to promote their environmental consciousness. But where does the power come from? -more-

This story is part of a special series on All Things Considered called "How Green is It?" Click here for more.

Solar Energy Initiatives to Build West Texas Park

July 29, 2009 · A Jacksonville solar company will build solar park in West Texas that will be able to power up to 60,000 homes. Solar Energy Initiatives Inc. said the 300-megawatt park will be the world’s largest non-utility owned solar park in the Americas. The $750 million project cost doesn’t take into account money the company will generate through the sale of the electricity. [Source: Jacksonville Business Journal] -more-

Pickens Still Gung-Ho On Wind Farm Despite Delay

July 4, 2009 · Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens joined lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to propose legislation that would more than double tax breaks for people who buy cars that run on natural gas. Under the plan, the $5,000 tax credit for natural gas vehicles, set to expire in 2010, would increase to $12,500 for passenger cars and light trucks. The move comes a day after Pickens postponed a plan to create the world's largest wind farm in Texas. The billionaire had spent $60 million advertising his plan to combat what he calls the United States' addiction to foreign oil. -more-

T. Boone Pickens Fueling Dialogue on Clean-Energy Efforts

July 6, 2009 · In July of last year, Dallas billionaire T. Boone Pickens began a $60 million advertising campaign and speaking tour designed to persuade Americans to stop using foreign oil. The oilman-turned-environmentalist proposed a seemingly simple plan: Convert cars, especially big fleets operated by companies and municipalities, from gasoline to domestic natural gas. And start generating more electricity from wind. [Source: The Dallas Morning News] -more-

In Spain, The Dead Help Fight Climate Change

July 4, 2009 · In the Barcelona suburb of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, a cemetery installed more than 450 solar panels on top of the mausoleums. -more-

Politicians Reconsider Drilling Off Florida Coast

July 2, 2009 · For years, oil production has been largely banned in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. In large part, that's because of concerns that a spill could devastate the state's tourism industry. But now, some elected officials seem willing to take another look at offshore drilling after years of opposition. -more-

Nuclear Plants May Run $13 Billion

June 29, 2009 · Building two new reactors outside of Bay City will cost $10 billion — $13 billion when factoring in financing charges, according to newly released estimates by CPS Energy. That means San Antonio's public utility will be on the hook for $5.2 billion if it proceeds with plans to keep 40 percent ownership of the South Texas Project as it expands. This would translate into 5 percent rate increases every other year for the next 10 years, said utility officials. That's if CPS can execute a plan to keep costs down by selling half of San Antonio's power from the nuclear expansion on the wholesale market to other municipal utilities and electric cooperatives. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Seattle Halts Use Of Soybean-Based Biofuels

June 26, 2009 · Ethanol and biodiesel were once touted as a green alternative to foreign oil. Now policymakers are questioning how much good biofuels actually do. A new report shows use of biodiesel may increase deforestation. -more-

Foes Unroll List of 28 Objections to Nuke Plant Proposal

June 24, 2009 · When NRG Energy submitted its application to the federal government to build two new nuclear power plants in this coastal town, it didn't account for the possibility the plant could be rammed by a large passenger jet. As of March, planning for such a horrendous event is required for new nuclear reactors. The fact that it was left out of the initial appliccalation is among 28 objections being voiced by a coalition of local residents and Austin-based environmental groups fighting the reactors. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Big, Big Solar Coming to West Texas

June 22, 2009 · Tessera Solar and CPS Energy announced the signing of an agreement on Monday to develop a 27-megawatt solar project in West Texas using the SunCatcher power system manufactured by Tessera Solar’s sister company, Stirling Energy Systems. [Source: Wall Street Journal] -more-

Solar Prospects Shining Brighter

June 12, 2009 · The new solar array atop the Full Goods Building at the redeveloped Pearl Brewery is now the biggest solar project in Texas. How big? The Express-News reported the 200-kilowatt installation has 704 photovoltaic panels. The solar project is a tribute to owner Kit Goldsbury's commitment to sensible and sustainable redevelopment at Pearl. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

NRG Energy Planting Solar in New Mexico ... Texas Could Be Next

June 12, 2009 · NRG Energy will build a solar power plant in southern New Mexico that could be the beginning of a string of solar plants from Texas to California.

New Jersey's NRG, the second-largest power generator in Texas, will sell all of the power from the new plant to El Paso Electric. [Source: Dallas Morning News] -more-

Texas a Leader in Creating Jobs Tied to Clean Energy, Study Says

June 11, 2009 · The nation's clean-energy economy is relatively small, but it's growing rapidly, and Texas is one of the leading players, according to a study released Wednesday by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Pew researchers counted 68,200 businesses and 770,000 jobs across the United States tied to clean energy as of 2007, according to the most recent data. Texas ranked second to California in both jobs and clean-energy businesses. [Source: Austin American-Statemen] -more-

Solar Company Brings Jobs to San Antonio

June 11, 2009 · Houston-based Standard Renewable Energy has announced plans to open a San Antonio office to take advantage of what it sees as a growing market for solar energy and energy-efficiency projects.

John Berger, the energy company's CEO, said the new office should open next month. The company still is looking at sites.

It tentatively plans to employ 20 people initially. More than 100 employees could be brought here if demand warrants, he said. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

New NRG Nuclear Plant to Cost $10 Billion

June 2, 2009 · The cost to build a new nuclear power plant in Texas has risen to $10 billion, up from early estimates, but much below price tags of other proposed U.S. nuclear projects, an executive with NRG Energy Inc's nuclear development arm said on Tuesday. The "all in" cost to build two 1,350-megawatt nuclear reactors in South Texas has risen 40 percent from 2006 estimates which did not include financing costs, Steve Winn, chief executive of Nuclear Innovation North America (NINA), told the Reuters Global Energy Summit. [Source: Reuters] -more-

Hutchison Wants Another $50 billion for Nuclear Power Plants

May 28, 2009 · The Crossroads region's nuclear power projects - the Bay City plant and proposed Exelon Nuclear plant in Victoria County - are important in creating efficient energy for businesses and all the growth that will soon come to the area, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said. Hutchison spoke with city officials Thursday in the Victoria Economic Development Corporation's offices and followed it up with a 10-minute news conference. [Source: Victoria Advocate] -more-

Nuclear Fusion Can't Come Soon Enough

May 29, 2009 · A new multibillion-dollar nuclear facility fusion could bring us closer to the reality of carbon-free energy. But some say even if we bring the technology closer, it may already be too late. Sam Eaton reports. -more-

Where Recession Can Hurt Clean Energy

May 28, 2009 · Global electricity use is expected to fall this year for the first time since World War II. The plus side: less energy means less CO2 in the atmosphere. But Sam Eaton reports why the recession may pave the way for a dirtier future. -more-

Power Hungry: Reinventing the Electric Grid

April 24, 2009 · NPR examines the costs, the politics and other challenges of upgrading the country's electricity grid in this special series of reports. Visualize the grid with NPR's interactive map. -more-

Obama's Push Toward Green Has Some Texans Seeing Red

May 24, 2009 · The Obama administration's push to shift the country toward renewable energy and away from fossil fuels puts the Texas economy in the crosshairs.

Hopeful Texas Democrats and entrepreneurs say the change would open opportunities for the state's energy industry, while cutting the greenhouse gas emissions that are heating the planet. But even as Texas installs more wind power than any other state and boosts incentives for solar energy, fossil fuels reign.

"If the construct is to punish carbon manufacturers, then yes, Texas does suffer," said John Hofmeister, former president of Houston-based Shell Oil Co. [Source: Dallas Morning News] -more-

How to Power a New Fuel Economy

May 19, 2009 · The Obama administration's new fuel efficiency standards will require vehicles to get at least 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. What does this mean for cars of the future? Tamara Keith reports. -more-

Did Exelon Scrap Victoria County Plans?

May 19, 2009 · You won't find Exelon Nuclear on the list of likely recipients for federal loan guarantees.

Contrary to reports, however, plans for the proposed Victoria County plant continue, Exelon spokespeople say. So, too, do urgent efforts to sway lawmakers to set aside more money to help guarantee more plants. Four companies planning new nuclear reactors were recently informed their applications are getting a closer look, the U.S. Department of Energy announced Friday. Exelon's name wasn't in the bunch. [Source: Victoria Advocate] -more-

Obama Launches Drive For Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

May 19, 2009 · President Obama has outlined new national standards to improve fuel efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions with regard to cars and light trucks. What does the plan entail? -more-

Chances Dim for Nuclear Plant at Victoria

May 15, 2009 · Plans for a new nuclear power plant in Victoria are likely to be scrapped because the project isn’t expected to obtain necessary government-backed loans to help finance the facility, the CEO of the company proposing the plant said Friday.

Exelon Corp. CEO John Rowe said the Victoria plant would be canceled without the loan guarantees he called essential to putting the two-reactor operation online.

"We’ve been very clear we can’t do it without the guarantees," Rowe told reporters after a speech at the National Press Club. [Source: Houston Chronicle] -more-

Renewables Push a Gold Mine for Demand-Response Middlemen

May 15, 2009 · On a February night in 2008, the wind died in the usually blustery Texas Panhandle, and a forest of wind turbines there stopped whirring. Power plunged, going from 1,700 megawatts to 300 megawatts in minutes, threatening a statewide blackout.

Alarmed, grid operators rushed to protect the electricity delivery system. Within minutes, electricity going to some major industrial customers was reduced dramatically. Plant lights were dimmed, air-handling systems and refrigerators shut down, and 1,100 megawatts were restored to the grid. [Source: New York Times] -more-

U.S. May be Left in Cold to Get Seabeds

May 13, 2009 · Today is the deadline for nations to file claims on continental shelves extending beyond their coastlines. But without signing a treaty, the U.S. could be losing out on some potentially vast oil reserves. Sam Eaton reports. -more-

EPA's New Biofuel Regs Could Curtail Industry

May 9, 2009 · The EPA recently issued new regulations based on science that says biofuels may not be as good for the environment as proponents first thought. The proposed policy — based on an earlier law that says biofuels must do more good than harm — could make it tougher for the industry to grow. -more-

Study: More Efficient Ways To Burn Ethanol

May 8, 2009 · Some U.S. companies currently convert corn and other crops into ethanol, which is burned in cars. But a new study shows that it would be more energy-wise and better for the environment to burn biomass in boilers and make electricity — then use the electricity to power cars. -more-

Will Electricity Power Cars of the Future?

May 8, 2009 · The Department of Energy is pulling the plug on hydrogen fuel-cell research. So electricity and ethanol are jockeying for the top car-powering spot. Are more electric cars in our future? Jennifer Collins reports. -more-

Obama Administration to Look Beyond Yucca Mountain for Waste Solutions

May 7, 2009 · The Obama administration solidified its plans today to kill the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository while seeking new increases for science and renewable-energy programs in a proposed $26.4 billion Energy Department budget for fiscal 2010.

The total proposal is essentially flat compared to current DoE funding. But that does not include nearly $40 billion showered on the department from the stimulus law for alternative-energy and efficiency initiatives. [Source: Scientific American] -more-

New Standards Could Cut Tax Breaks for Corn-Based Ethanol

May 6, 2009 · The Obama administration on Tuesday proposed renewable-fuel standards that could reduce the $3 billion a year in federal tax breaks given to producers of corn-based ethanol. The move sets the stage for a major battle between Midwest grain producers and environmentalists who say the gasoline additive actually worsens global warming.

For much of the last decade, federal officials have touted the potential of corn ethanol as a substitute for gasoline and a tool for reducing global warming and foreign oil dependence.

However, environmentalists and others have questioned the wisdom of that support. [Source: Los Angeles Times] -more-

Nuke Plan May Cost $22 Billion

April 29, 2009 · CPS Energy continues its silence on the price of nuclear expansion plans, but a new study to be unveiled today estimates that building two more reactors in Bay City could cost $20 billion to $22 billion. The study was contracted by the consumer group Public Citizen and conducted by Clarence Johnson, former director of regulatory analysis for the Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Texas Voters: We ♥ Free Renewables

April 28, 2009 · A new poll of Texans found strong support for renewable fuels, even in this state that still lionizes Spindletop and has built two world-class university systems with petro-dollars.

According to the poll, 85% of respondents favored increasing the production and use of renewable energy in Texas. And more than three-quarters said they thought the state should provide “financial incentives, such as loans, subsidies and temporary tax reductions to recruit renewable energy businesses.”
[Source: Wall Street Journal] -more-

Beaming Solar Power From Space

April 24, 2009 · California law requires utility companies to get a fifth of their electricity from renewable sources by 2012. So Pacific Gas and Electric is getting creative with satellite technology. Jennifer Collins reports. -more-

Petition Sought to Stop Nuke Expansion

April 24, 2009 · Citing worries ranging from the reactors' inability to withstand an airplane attack to an inadequate supply of fresh water for plant operations during drought, a coalition of activist organizations is petitioning the federal government to scuttle plans for two more nuclear plants near Bay City.

"We would love the reactors halted in their tracks," said Karen Hadden of the Austin-based SEED Coalition. "They produce radioactive waste, which is dangerous to health. They are expensive and they consume vast quantities of water." [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

U.S. May Never Need More Nuclear, Coal Plants, FERC Head Says

April 22, 2009 ·The U.S. may never need to build new nuclear or coal-fired power plants because renewable energy and improved efficiency can meet future power demand, the head of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said.

“They’re too expensive,” Jon Wellinghoff told reporters today at a press conference in Washington hosted by the U.S. Energy Association. “The last price I saw for a nuke was north of $7,000 a kilowatt. That’s more expensive than a solar system.” [Souce: Bloomberg] -more-

Andrews County To Vote On Funding Nuclear Waste Dump

April 20, 2009 · Early voting begins on April 27th. While many Texas cities will focus on picking new mayors and city council members, Andrews County in far West Texas will be deciding if they should use county funds pay for a local private nuclear waste dump. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has the story. -more-

Mayoral Candidates Show Differing Shades of Green

April 20, 2009 · When Mayor Phil Hardberger rolled out his Mission Verde plan in January, the goal was nothing less than the transformation of San Antonio's economy and infrastructure to meet the needs of the 21st century. Whether that vision is realized will depend in large part on the person who succeeds him. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

A Truly Green Energy Source: Algae

April 17, 2009 · [Talk of the Nation: Science Friday] Ira Flatow and guests discuss the future of algae-based energy — including plans for a new algae-fueled power plant in Venice, Italy. Biologist Jerry Brand explains why biotech companies are snapping up samples from his extensive algae collection at the University of Texas at Austin. -more-

Court Blocks Bid To Expand Drilling Off Alaska

April 17, 2009 · A program to expand oil and gas drilling off the Alaska coast was canceled Friday by a federal appeals court that ruled the Bush administration did not properly study the environmental impact. The oil and gas leasing program in the Beaufort, Bering and Chukchi seas was proposed in 2005. -more-

U.S., Mexico Agree New Partnership on Climate Change

April 17, 2009 · The United States and Mexico agreed on Thursday on a new partnership to fight climate change and promote environmentally-friendly forms of energy production, they said in a joint statement. [Source: Reuters] -more-

For the Electric Grid, Renewable Goals Pose Daunting Task

April 17, 2009 · The vast expansion of wind and solar power planned by the Obama administration and congressional leaders is fraught with challenges for the nation's aged electricity network, grid monitors with the North American Electric Reliability Corp. say. [Source: The News York Times] -more-

Calif. Commission Proposes TV Energy Standards

April 15, 2009 · Officials in California are considering tougher energy efficiency standards for new, big-screen television sets. Big screen and high definition TV's draw much more electricity than the old, smaller screen, analog sets. -more-

Battle Over Offshore Drilling In Arctic Dwarfs ANWR

April 15, 2009 · Sea ice in the Arctic is retreating, opening the way for some of the largest oil and gas leases in history. But with many species already endangered or threatened, the battle over offshore drilling in Alaska may become more controversial than onshore. -more-

San Antonio Landfill Capped with Flexible Solar Cover

April 14, 2009 · Republic Services, Inc., partnering with CPS Energy, embarked on an innovative new venture to greatly increase renewable energy output at its landfills. The company combined a first-of-its-kind solar technology with an existing biogas-to-energy system to turn its Tessman Road Landfill in San Antonio, Texas into a sustainable energy park. The flexible solar strips, developed by United Solar, cap the landfill to capture the sun’s rays for conversion into electricity and are adhered directly to a Firestone manufactured synthetic geo-membrane cover. Republic and CPS Energy will document the results of this project for use in the deployment of solar energy covers on landfills throughout the region and to provide electricity in excess of the landfill facilities’ needs to area power customers.

Dallas School Bus Runs On Vegetable Oil

April 8, 2009 · In Texas, the Dallas County school district has become one of the first in the country to figure out how to run a school bus on vegetable oil. The district hopes to convert all of its buses to this environmentally friendly fuel. -more-

Hidden Ingredient In New, Greener Battery: A Virus

April 6, 2009 · In the quest for a more environmentally friendly battery, MIT scientists have turned to biology. They've incorporated a genetically engineered virus into the structure of a lithium battery, allowing for a less toxic manufacturing process. -more-

Calif. Desert Becomes Home For Renewable Energy

April 3, 2009 · California's utilities are in a tight spot. They must get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by the end of next year. Currently, renewable energy provides only 12 percent of the state's needs. Green energy is needed, and fast. -more-

Get Foolish About Climate Change

April 1, 2009 · Environmentalists also took part in today's London protest. The U.K.'s Together campaign spends most of its time issuing dire warnings about climate change. But today, its message is to get a little . . . foolish. From the Marketplace Sustainability Desk, Caitlan Carroll explains. -more-

Nuclear Power a Less Toxic Subject

March 27, 2009 · There's been a huge shift in how nuclear power is perceived, which some experts attribute to a renewed focus on safety. Danielle Karson reports issues like disposal are currently among the nuclear industry's most pressing concerns. -more-

Drilling Up Old Oil Safety Issues

March 24, 2009 · Today marks the 20-year anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker accident, and the oil industry has ramped up safety measures since then. But a proposal to drill in the Arctic has some experts worried. Caitlan Carroll reports. -more-

Africans Wary of Biofuel Developers

March 18, 2009 · Investment in biofuels could bring much-needed development to African countries. But locals are still skeptical they'll see any of the benefits. Gretchen Wilson reports. -more-

Wind Farms Change the Air in China

March 16, 2009 · China is using its stimulus to invest in wind power, which it hopes will boost air quality and help with energy demand. Scott Tong reports. -more-

Greening the Grid

March 6, 2009 · [Living on Earth] Getting solar and wind energy to where it's needed could spark a power struggle over power lines. -more-

Federal Court Halts Drilling Near Parks

January 28, 2009 · [Living on Earth] In a last-minute ruling, a federal judge issued a restraining order on the sale of oil and gas leases near several national parks. -more-

The Future of CNG Vehicles in San Antonio

December 12, 2008 · Fueling cars with compressed natural gas is not a new concept. The fuel is still cheaper and burns much cleaner than gasoline. Using it also reduces the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Many cities across the country and in Texas back programs for consumers to purchase and operate natural gas vehicles, but San Antonio has yet to fully support the concept. Texas Public Radio’s Terry Gildea looks at what’s working in Austin and finds out why it’s not happening in the Alamo City – at least not yet.

The End of the "Oil Age"

November 14, 2008 · [PRI's The World] Energy analyst Michael Klare says the world's largest oil fields are running out of oil at twice the rate that we'd previously assumed. -more-

More Wind Energy Coming To Texas

July 23, 2008 · Texas is the nation’s leader in generating wind power, but the state is only tapping a tiny fraction of the available wind. However, that is about to change. The Texas Public Utility Commission tentatively approved a 5 billion dollar plan that will greatly increase wind energy. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has the story.