Austin Energy will not retire its stake in the Fayette coal power plant next year, the publicly owned electric utility announced Monday. Shutting down its portion of the plant by 2022 had been a key part of the city’s climate goals. Austin Energy said it was unable to reach an agreement on the closure with […]
Mose Buchele, KUT
Posted inEnvironment
Barton Creek, Sculpture Falls closed to swimmers and pets after toxins found in the water
The city of Austin confirmed the presence of poisonous algae toxins in Barton Creek after at least one swimmer got sick. The city is warning people not to go in the water as long as the dangerous algae remain. Dogs and other animals can also be affected and should be kept away. The city collected […]
Posted inEnvironment
As climate crisis deepens, Austin looks to speed up emission reductions
Austin would effectively emit zero greenhouse gases 10 years earlier than previously planned if a new proposal from city staff comes to fruition – but the goal would require a dramatic acceleration of the progress the city has already made toward its climate targets. The draft for the city’s Climate Equity Plan says the more […]
Posted inEnergy
For most of Texas, this summer was extreme … extremely mild
This summer the West Coast burned, the Midwest baked and states from Louisiana to New York flooded, but the weather in Texas was pretty OK, actually? After enduring a historic winter storm and statewide power failure this February, Texas got a reprieve from extreme weather and scorching heat this summer, according to weather data from […]
Posted inEnvironment
Hotter, stormier, droughtier: What to look for as meteorologists update ‘normal’ weather for Austin
Lee esta historia en español. When you hear a weatherperson mention Austin’s average high temperature or rainfall next month, the numbers will be different. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is updating what it considers “normal” weather throughout the country. And NOAA says climate change is self-evident in the new data. Government statistics on normal […]
Posted inCity Council
Austin approves $23M to help prevent gentrification near new transit hubs
Austin City Council has put $23 million toward projects to stop people from getting priced out of their neighborhoods. It’s the first use of money from a larger anti-displacement fund set up to soften the gentrifying effects of planned rail and transportation projects. Real estate development, property values, taxes and rent will likely rise around […]
Posted inEnvironment
Some air pollutants increased in Austin during the pandemic. The big question is why?
As Covid-19 spread across the globe in the spring, people noticed a strange side effect of the pandemic: The air was getting cleaner. Stay-at-home orders, along with the economic crash caused by the outbreak, meant less industrial and transportation-related pollution. But not necessarily in Austin. A review of Austin air quality by the Capital Area […]
Posted inWater
City could store three Lake Austins’ worth of water underground by 2040
Austin gets all of its water from the Highland Lakes, but that might not always be the case. The city recently took a first step toward storing massive amounts of water underground. If the plan works, it could help Austin survive as the climate crisis threatens traditional water supplies. With this technique, called aquifer storage […]
Posted inCity Council
Austin lifts ban on public drinking in East Austin
Lee esta historia en español. No matter what side of the street you’re on, you will soon be on the right side of the law when you walk around East Austin with a beer. Austin City Council approved a resolution on Wednesday to lift a prohibition on public drinking that exists in some parts of […]
Posted inWater
Dog owners take note: Toxic algae early warning system is in the works
The heat of summer is here and that means toxic blue-green algae may return to Austin lakes and creeks. Last year, at least five dogs died after swimming in parts of Lady Bird Lake containing the algae. This year, the city is developing an early warning system to let people know when conditions are ripe […]
Posted inCourts
Kinder Morgan sued over drilling fluid spill in Blanco County
The pipeline company Kinder Morgan violated the Safe Drinking Water Act when it spilled tens of thousands of gallons of drilling fluid into Blanco County groundwater, according to a new lawsuit from local landowners and groundwater conservation groups. In late March, Teresa Albright turned on the faucet in her Blanco home and saw the water […]
Posted inEnergy
Hays County revokes permits for Kinder Morgan pipeline
The Hays County Commissioners Court has revoked permits it issued allowing Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway pipeline project to bore under county roads. The move is the most recent flare-up in a long-standing battle between Hill Country landowners, local governments and the pipeline company. Hays County took the action Tuesday after a pipeline accident in neighboring […]