Environment

The San Antonio Water System board just approved a program that will help customers transform portions of their landscape to save water.

Though past landscape programs have required customers to make purchases up front to get a rebate, the new program issues a coupon before the purchase, giving households a discount on approved plants and a required amount of mulch at a local nursery.

CPS Energy is replacing its solar credit system that pays solar energy users with another program that pays slightly less, leaving some solar energy organizations and customers outraged.

CPS Energy customers currently pay 9.9 cents per kilowatt used, but people with solar energy on their home or business receive the same 9.9 cents back as a credit on their bill for every kilowatt they generate in a process called net-metering.

The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance has released its legislative agenda for the 83rd session of the Texas Legislature, throwing its support behind 38 bills that promote water conservation and water quality, call for better funding of state parks, and improve coordination between various agencies dealing with water.

GEAA Executive Director Annalisa Peace said the broad support from the alliance indicates that legislators are thinking creatively and responsibly about Texas’ water problems.