Pretty big flaring event at one of the nation's largest refineries yesterday. The #$XOM Baytown, TX refinery (588kbpd capacity) saw multiple units with *major* flaring activity. The refiner cited "unplanned equipment shutdowns" that may have been assocatied with TS Arthur

This little guy is a Cave myotis bat—one of more than 1,100 Texas species identified as needing conservation attention in the State Wildlife Action Plan. The new interactive SWAP is a great way to explore the wildlife and habitats that make Texas unique. txswap.org

Berries in cardboard instead of plastic. Another world is possible.

“if it continues or accelerates, rivers in the Eastern United States, India and across the tropics could lose enough oxygen by the end of the century to suffocate some fish and create dead zones, the study said.” apnews.com/article/rive...

Another solar energy record in ERCOT smashed, with 33,975 MW produced (meeting 65% of the demand) yesterday morning 😎

The latest @houstonchronicle.com op-ed from @lukemetzger.bsky.social: Houston's plastic isn’t really recycled. It’s burned. We need a new deal. www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...

Microplastics and health webinar on Tuesday environmentamerica.org/texas/events...

When do we get the Project Hail Mary level of urgency and global cooperation ? www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Love all these bike racks on the train from BWI to DC! (It’s Sunday night, so not surprising they’re not in use right now).

Instead of “destroying virgin land, Texas can locate new data centers and other high-tech industries at retiring coal plant sites” which have “land, transportation networks, and most importantly, vital infrastructure and high-voltage grid connections.” www.archpaper.com/2026/01/texa...

Wind and solar producing 1/3 of electricity in ERCOT right now, with batteries charging to use later.

Some good news - there were three times as many EVs on the road in 2024 than in 2020.

Proud to have our big state parks victory profiled in the New York Times (yes, I’m still on X) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/u...

Harry Truman doesn’t get enough credit for the Berlin airlift and confirming that American might would stay in Western Europe as long as necessary to preserve democracy there. You can easily imagine a President abandoning Europe after WWII, feeling like the US had done enough.

San Antonio has one of the best greenway trail systems in the country — and it’s still growing. Over the past 25 years, the greenway trail system has expanded to over 103 miles. Learn more about the Howard Peak Greenway Trail: bit.ly/48ZCD20 ✍️+📽️: Priscilla Aguirre

WWII government propaganda poster to get people to conserve resources. What kind of message would work today to accomplish the same goal?

“We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again” - American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene

A new initiative from the Texas A&M Forest Service could allow landowners in areas struck by natural disasters to claim up to $80,000 to plant more trees on their property

Realtors know that, in many parts of the country, if you educate people about climate risk, the housing market will collapse. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/c...

TIL about the Barrage Balloon Brigade. This all African-American force protected troops storming the beaches of Normandy by preventing enemy aircraft from flying close enough to bomb or fire from overhead. The cables anchoring the balloons also entangled planes. Pretty cool!

Recent rains make it ideal to sow wildflower seeds, thin irises, remove unwanted seedlings, and time lawn care for Texas yards.

The latest books my 10 yr old daughter checked out of the library. She says she now wants a how-to manual for protesting. 😍

This is our world now :(

Perhaps unpopular opinion- Cybertrucks are ugly and I’d never buy one, but they’re all electric, so I respect their drivers more than I do of gas guzzling SUVs.

“Panels installed flat against the roof, in particular, fared well. Some rooftop solar owners have taken to removing their panels ahead of strong winds. Many were already back online.”

Friday (11/7) #bcstx topped off at 87° -- the THIRD WARMEST in 143 years of record keeping. 🔴 Unusual, near-record warmth made at least TWICE as likely due to human-caused climate change. This trend? Already playing out in real-time • 2023 & 2024 — tied #1 • 2022, 2018 — tied #3

We’ll miss you, Speaker Pelosi! Thank you for all you did for the climate. (Photo from 2007)

The Zavala Elementary PTA is working to raise $7500 this year to support our sweet little east Austin school. We need new chairs for the library, we want to restore some of the field trips which were cut this year in a budget-saving measure, and more. Can you pitch in? Thank you!

🏞️ A massive new state park, spanning 54,000 acres, could soon reshape outdoor life in Texas. Here's where: bit.ly/3WxVTha

Sunset at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas Second largest canyon in the Western Hemisphere, 2nd only to the Grand Canyon. Also the site where the last Indian wars in Texas were held, Comanche & Kiowa vs. US Cavalry. Photo from: Texas Parks and Wildlife, 2024

The Arcane Texas Fact of the Day: If you like Caddo Lake State Park, you can thank Lady Bird Johnson's father, Thomas Jefferson Taylor. In 1934 Thomas donated to the state about two-thirds of the land (some 385 acres) composing the park. This lovely photo taken by Louis Vest.

I led most of my TX colleagues in opposition to Trump's recent effort to deny and unravel basic climate science. Preventing EPA from acknowledging that greenhouse gas emissions harm our health will prevent us from maintaining modest climate action or taking necessary steps to cut emissions further.

“On Sept. 20, with hidden cameras recording the scene, Homan accepted $50,000 in bills, according to an internal summary of the case.” Homan was being investigated for allegedly “soliciting payments in exchange for awarding contracts should Trump win the election” www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/t...

“Hendricks said his top priorities will be to push for expanding Texas' clean-energy portfolio” ❤️ I serve with Jeremy on the Bond Election Advisory Task Force and know he’ll be a terrific state rep. www.statesman.com/news/politic...

These are terrible people.

I’ve been in Denver all week helping train new staff for Environment America, PIRG and The Public Interest Network. These talented folks will spread out across the country tomorrow to work for the environment, consumers, democracy and more!

Thousands of Texans live near major methane leaks.

“Polystyrene can break down and can both litter and create an eyesore in our parks and rivers, but ... when they're small [the particles] can be mistaken by wildlife for food, and that can cause, serious harm to an animal, a bird a fish, or a turtle,” said Luke Metzger, ED of Environment Texas

I was so pleased with the name I came up with for a newsletter - Wild About Texas. Turns out it’s copyrighted. ☹️ Suggestions for alternative names?

Sam Houston National Forest offers “Texans a chance to hike, camp, fish and simply experience the quiet beauty of nature just an hour from the city. It’s far more important to keep these areas intact than to carve new roads or squeeze out a little more timber” t.co/EEkQzofwVj

"This forest provides a habitat for... over 100 birds, such as the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. Allowing logging & developing on 4,000 acres that are currently protected would damage their habitat." - Read more by @lukemetzger.bsky.social & Drew Francis: environmentamerica.org/texas/center...

The climate revolving fund is eliminated entirely in Mayor Watson’s tax increase proposal. :( #atxcouncil

We need more housing. Every single Senator on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee voted to advance a landmark package to help get more homes built and make the federal government a better partner to local communities. Let's get this done.

If we’re going to raise taxes, I sure hope more than 0.5% of the money goes to tackle climate change, the most profound challenge of our times! 550k for a climate revolving fund is hardly inspiring @mikesiegeltx.bsky.social @zoforaustin.bsky.social assets.austintexas.gov/austincounci...

Heavenly power

My 18 year old son wants an e bike - any recommendations for a solid budget bike? We’d love to use the Austin Energy rebate, but it only applies to local shops where prices are a lot higher. I have a Radpower I love, but he’s looking for something in the $500-600 range.