Stories by Mose Buchele, KUT
Austin revamps solar rebate program as White House levies new tariffs on panels
At a new 28-home development in East Austin, workers for Lighthouse Solar pull solar panels from the back of a trailer, haul them to a ladder, and then carry them 30 feet up to the recently shingled rooftops where they’ll…
Energy • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Feb 6, 2018
How zebra mussels will change Austin lakes (and maybe Barton Springs) forever
The invasive zebra mussel has been moving south for years, leaving destruction in its wake. Now, it’s in Lake Travis, and it will soon make its way downstream, changing the look, feel and maybe even the taste of Austin’s lakes…
Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Aug 17, 2017
City of Austin welcomes Texas AG opinion on local tree rules
In Austin, and in about 60 other Texas cities, you need to get a permit before you cut down some large or historic trees. Opponents of those tree preservation rules – including Gov. Greg Abbott – call them a violation…
Texas State Legislature • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jul 18, 2017
How climate change could impact the road ahead for infrastructure in Austin
As greenhouse gasses heat the atmosphere, we can expect more severe floods and droughts. That could be trouble for critical infrastructure like bridges and roads in many cities, including here in Central Texas. Take Southeast Austin, where a creek runs…
Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jun 27, 2017
Tree protection programs may not have the impact on property owners many believe
When lawmakers meet in Austin later this summer for a special legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott wants them to curb Texas towns’ ability to protect local trees. He’s framed his directive as part of a larger effort to end “micro-managing”…
Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jun 14, 2017
For many Austinites, city parks remain out of reach
From the hike and bike trail on Lady Bird Lake to Mount Bonnell, Austin is proud of its parks. But a new study ranking city parks around the country suggests that pride might not be fully justified. Austin ranked just…
Parks • By Mose Buchele, KUT • May 24, 2017
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Austin’s solar-ready woes
Imagine a house. Now imagine the roof. What do you see? Some shingles. Maybe a chimney? But really there’s so much more. District 7 City Council Member Leslie Pool has sponsored a resolution to make more Austin homes solar-ready. Part…
Development • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Feb 2, 2017
Austin and Dripping Springs at odds over plan to dump wastewater in Onion Creek
Tonight, the public is invited to give its input at a hearing held by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) over a permit to allow Dripping Springs to dump almost a million gallons of treated wastewater into Onion Creek,…
Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Nov 10, 2016
Plan to reduce grass carp in Lake Austin sparks new concerns for anglers
Standing next to Lake Austin, watching the wake of passing motorboats lick the shoreline, you likely wouldn’t think there was anything amiss. But just below the water’s surface, many of the creatures that call the reservoir home are struggling for…
Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Sep 9, 2016
What's up with Austin's recycling?
“Would you like to have a little Coke?” asks Kathy Bell Hargrave, cracking open a can of soda in her daughter’s kitchen. Some things we do in life without giving them a second thought, but when we stop to think…
