Each week, the Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week we look at the Electro Purification water deals coming out of Hays County. As Andy Sevilla has reported over the past 10 days or so, Electro Purification — a Houston-based company — is looking to pump nearly 2 billion […]
Environment
Posted inHays County, Local Government, Resources, Water
Many on alert over water drilling plan in Hays
Hays County officials and residents concerned over the proposed pumping of 1.8 billion gallons of water per year from the Trinity Aquifer are calling for the Texas Legislature’s help. “Immediate action needs to be taken to fill in that white zone, that white area, and that can only be done by our legislature,” Pct. 3 […]
Posted inCity Council, Local Politics, Resources
Zimmerman establishes pole position
As one of their first acts as a body, City Council members examined, then approved, a routine contract for up to $10 million of steel poles for Austin Energy. Council Member Don Zimmerman pulled the proposed contract with TransAmerican Power Products, Inc. for extra scrutiny and abstained from an otherwise unanimous vote. Zimmerman lamented the […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment, Resources
Austin Energy to clarify gas plant study request
Austin Energy will update its call for consultants to conduct an independent study of a proposed gas plant and renewable alternatives, following a Monday request from the Electric Utility Commission. Gage Loots, supervising senior buyer for the utility’s purchasing office, told the Austin Monitor on Wednesday that his staff plans to issue an addendum to the […]
Posted inPremium Types
Tip Sheet: Travis County Commissioners 1-27
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in regular session. In the interest of space, we have decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office posts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Commissioners Court include: Consider and take appropriate action on the dedication of a […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government, Music & Entertainment, Resources, Texas State Legislature, Water
New agriculture commissioner calls water top issue
Recently elected Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said Wednesday that he plans for the agency to play a more active role as it relates to water. “We’re going to have a water department, and we’re going to be very involved,” Miller said at a luncheon during a Lower Colorado River Authority Planning and […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics, Water
Watershed Department maps it out in new guides
Though Austin’s new single-member district system has been actively in place for almost a month, there are undoubtedly countless details to be worked out. There are also opportunities for education, as the Watershed Protection Department has illustrated with a recent project. The Watershed Protection Council District Profiles project details citywide and district-specific watershed profiles and […]
Posted inAustin, Environment, Music & Entertainment, Parks
City plans to repair cyclo-cross damage at Zilker
City staff has revealed a one-year plan that they hope will remediate tree and turf damage related to a national cyclo-cross championship held in Zilker Park earlier this month. Watershed Protection Department Environmental Officer Chuck Lesniak told the Environmental Board Wednesday that Parks and Recreation Department staff and City Arborist Michael Embesi have “a pretty […]
Posted inHays County, Local Government, Resources, Water
Buda Council makes waves with water contract
Much to the dismay of a standing-room-only crowd at Buda City Hall, City Council members approved a water supply contract Tuesday that would allow up to 1 million gallons per day for city use from the Trinity Aquifer in western Hays County. Electro Purification, the Houston-based water supplier that is looking to extract water from […]
Posted inCity Hall, Environment, Local Politics, Resources, Texas State Legislature
City orders study on bag ban that state may toss
Amid concerns that state leadership will take steps to limit city ordinances such as Austin’s plastic bag ban, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission has instructed city staff to study the ban in time to send the results to the state legislature. The commission unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday requesting that the Austin Resource Recovery Department […]
Posted inAustin, Environment, Roads, Transportation, Travis County
Conservation District delays vote on SH45 SW agreement
Representatives of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District voted to put off a decision on an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation that is intended to provide greater environmental protection for the construction of State Highway 45 Southwest. District residents, civic organizations and representatives of Austin and Travis County urged the aquifer district board […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Environment, Zoning
Neighbors rally against eastside hotel proposal
Developers seeking a variance to turn an old warehouse on Red Bluff Road into a hotel were met with opposition from neighbors, who say the property owners should build within zoning laws to maintain the area along the Colorado River. At the Planning Commission on Tuesday night, Daniel Woodroffe, president of landscape architecture firm DWG, […]