Texas
Offshore wind farm proposed for Gulf of Mexico near Galveston could power 2.3 million homes
/static.texastribune.org/media/files/d2fdfd3509c319b80d334e1c5c260783/Offshore%20Wind%20Biden%20-%20REUTERS.jpg "Offshore wind farm proposed for Gulf of Mexico near Galveston could power 2.3 million homes")
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HOUSTON — The Gulf of Mexico’s first offshore wind farms can be developed off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, the Biden administration introduced Wednesday, and collectively they’re projected to supply sufficient power to energy round 3 million properties.
The wind farms doubtless is not going to be up and operating for years, power analysts and the state’s grid operator mentioned, however the announcement from the U.S. Inside Division is step one in ramping up offshore wind power in the USA, which has lagged behind that of Europe and China. The one two working offshore wind power farms within the U.S. are off the coasts of Rhode Island and Virginia, which collectively produce 42 megawatts of electrical energy — sufficient to energy fewer than 2,500 properties.
One of many new wind tasks introduced Wednesday can be developed 24 nautical miles off the coast of Galveston, overlaying a complete of 546,645 acres — larger than town of Houston — with the potential to energy 2.3 million properties, in line with the U.S. Inside Division’s Bureau of Ocean Vitality Administration. The opposite challenge can be developed close to Port Arthur, about 56 nautical miles off the coast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, overlaying 188,023 acres with the potential to energy 799,000 properties.
“It’s thrilling to see offshore wind within the Gulf getting nearer to actuality,” mentioned Luke Metzger, govt director of Surroundings Texas, an environmental safety group. “With robust winds within the evenings after we want power essentially the most, offshore wind within the Gulf of Mexico would tremendously complement Texas’ onshore renewable power assets, assist bolster our shaky electrical grid and assist the environment.”
The wind farms will be a part of a rising variety of oil drilling rigs off the coast of Texas, together with close to Galveston, the place the oil platforms dot the horizon looking from Galveston’s seashores. The Biden administration additionally not too long ago has opened up land within the Gulf of Mexico for extra offshore oil and fuel drilling leases.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark in regards to the new offshore wind power developments.
“Offshore wind has a fantastic potential in Texas,” Brad Jones, president of the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas, which manages Texas’ fundamental energy grid, instructed The Texas Tribune on Thursday. “It would take a while to develop, and that point can be based mostly on how shortly we are able to put collectively port services, the specialised ships which are obligatory and prepare our labor drive to attain such a improvement. It’s new for the U.S.”
Texas is already the nation’s largest wind energy producer and has land-based wind farms up and down the Gulf Coast, the place winds sometimes blow more durable.
Wind power’s contributions to the Texas energy grid range relying on the place, and the way arduous, the wind blows throughout the state. On Tuesday, when Texas hit a brand new file for power consumption, wind and solar energy mixed to supply 25% of the power on the grid, ERCOT mentioned. On July 11, when ERCOT requested Texans to preserve electrical energy as a result of demand threatened to exceed provide, wind technology dropped to lower than 10% of its total capability.
ERCOT forecasters mentioned they sometimes don’t count on loads of wind power throughout sizzling summer time days as a result of throughout summer time winds are usually stronger at evening.
Offshore wind supplies a lot steadier power manufacturing than wind farms on land in Texas, Jones mentioned. With the “extraordinary” development of Texas’ inhabitants and financial system, Jones mentioned “now we have to maintain tempo with that improvement.”
“So having a further useful resource that may present technology to Texans to maintain the lights on is a worth to all of us,” Jones mentioned.
Metzger and power analysts mentioned firms are thinking about growing offshore wind tasks in Texas, however it’s too early to inform how shortly they are going to be constructed and the way a lot they are going to price.
New monetary incentives from the federal or state governments might pace up completion of the tasks, the analysts mentioned, however it’s unclear whether or not that can occur.
“The business urge for food is there — it truly is in regards to the regulatory hurdles that exist,” mentioned Kenneth B. Medlock III, an power knowledgeable at Rice College. “There’s loads of curiosity, undoubtedly. Firms are actively lobbying to attempt to get these tasks completed.”
Leaders in neighboring Louisiana have been actively working to draw wind power manufacturing. Louisiana’s most up-to-date local weather plan, launched in February, set a purpose of producing 5 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035, which might energy thousands and thousands of properties there. Texas doesn’t have a state local weather plan.
“Louisiana, in contrast to Texas, has been actually bullish on growing offshore wind and providing financial incentives to offshore wind,” Metzger mentioned.
Nonetheless, U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, mentioned Texas “has constantly led within the offshore power business” and is properly positioned to accommodate the brand new challenge.
“Our area has the power experience and the prevailing infrastructure to help the growth of wind alternatives whereas powering our nation,” Fletcher mentioned in a press release. “As an advocate for an all-of-the-above technique for power funding, I welcome this proposal and look ahead to partnering with the Administration to create new jobs and to make sure our area and our nation proceed to steer the transition to a lower-carbon world.”
Disclosure: Rice College has been a monetary supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group that’s funded partly by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Monetary supporters play no function within the Tribune’s journalism. Discover a full record of them right here.
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:focal(0x0:3000x2000)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/6f32d66e87ab02683334d91174473138/1105%20Election%20Day%20Permian%20Basin%20EH%20TT%2053.jpg "Texas Democrats underperformed yet again. Now what?")
A common theme for No. 22 TCU has been their complete dominance on their home floor this season. The Horned Frogs finished the year 14-1 at Schollmaier Arena. On Friday night, in front of over 3,000 fans, TCU swept Texas Tech (25-14, 26-24, 25-11).
The four seniors honored by TCU were Melanie Parra, Cecily Bramschreiber, Stephanie Young and Ashlyn Bourland. All four players found ways to contribute as Parra finished with 14 kills and seven digs. Bramschreiber filled up the stat sheet with four kills, four aces and seven digs. Both Young and Bourland got an ace.
Both teams traded points in the early going, but Bramschreiber sparked a 7-2 run to give the Frogs a 16-9 lead. TCU hit .417 in the first set and dominated the first set capped off by a Becca Kelley ace.
In set two, Texas Tech made things much closer jumping out to a 8-5 lead. A 4-0 run from TCU put them back in front. This set included multiple runs and it was Tech that got it to set point leading 24-22. TCU was able to end the set on a 4-0 run courtesy of kills from Jalyn Gibson and Parra paired with aces from Bramschreiber.
Trying to keeps things alive, TCU wasn’t met with much resistance from the Red Raiders in the third set. The Frogs kept up the pressure with multiple runs to build a massive 17-8 lead. Bourland picked up her first career ace and an attack error ended things.
It was a fun night for the seniors that played in front of the TCU crowd for the last time. The 14 wins at home tied the school record for most wins at home in a single season. They also picked up the most wins in a season since 2015. What Jason Williams has done for this program in such a short time has been remarkable to watch.
The Frogs move to 19-7 overall 11-5 in conference. They still are fifth in the Big 12 standings with two games to go. They will travel to Morgantown on Wednesday to take on West Virginia at 6 p.m. and then to Cincinnati on Friday at 1 p.m.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a lawsuit Thursday targeting the blue city of Dallas over a ballot measure that decriminalizes marijuana.
Paxton alleges that Proposition R, which “prohibits the Dallas Police Department from making arrests or issuing citations for marijuana possession or considering the odor of marijuana as probable cause for search or seizure,” violates state law.
The attorney general argues in the lawsuit that the ballot measure is preempted by Texas law, which criminalizes the possession and distribution of marijuana. Paxton also claims the Texas Constitution prohibits municipalities from adopting an ordinance that conflicts with laws enacted by the state legislature.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks outside the U.S. Supreme Court on November 01, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“Cities cannot pick and choose which State laws they follow,” Paxton said in a statement. “The City of Dallas has no authority to override Texas drug laws or prohibit the police from enforcing them.”
Paxton called the ballot measure “a backdoor attempt to violate the Texas Constitution” and threatened to sue any other city that “tries to constrain police in this fashion.”
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A flower bud of marijuana. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
The lawsuit comes after interim Dallas Police Department Chief Michael Igo directed Dallas police officers not to enforce marijuana laws against those found to be in possession of less than 4 ounces.
Ground Game Texas, a progressive nonprofit group that campaigned in favor of the ballot measure, argued it would help “keep people out of jail for marijuana possession,” “reduce racially biased policing” and “save millions in public funding.”
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A mature marijuana plant begins to bloom under artificial lights at Loving Kindness Farms in Gardena, Calif., May 20, 2019. Paxton has sued the city of Dallas over a ballot measure that decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
“It’s unfortunate but not surprising that Attorney General Ken Paxton has apparently chosen to waste everyone’s time and money by filing yet another baseless lawsuit against marijuana decriminalization,” said Catina Voellinger, executive director for Ground Game Texas.
“Judges in Travis and Hays counties have already dismissed identical lawsuits filed there. The Dallas Freedom Act was overwhelmingly approved by 67% of voters — this is democracy in action.”
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Since January 2024, Paxton has filed lawsuits against five Texas cities that decriminalized marijuana possession, arguing these policies promote crime, drug abuse and violence.
The Texas Longhorns are heading back to Austin with some early-season tournament hardware in hand.
Tre Johnson battled through another poor shooting night but closed the game out for Texas once again, scoring a game-high 17 points to lead the Longhorns to a 67-58 win over Saint Joseph’s at the Legends Classic championship round in Brooklyn Friday night.
Transfer guard Julian Larry sparked the Longhorns late, scoring all 12 of his points in the second half. Arthur Kaluma added 14 points, four rebounds and four assists while Kadin Shedrick had 10 points and six rebounds.
The Hawks were led by Rasheer Fleming, who stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 20 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and three steals. Xzayvier Brown added 15 points on 4 of 7 shooting.
The Longhorns jumped out to an 11-6 lead after seven early points from Kaluma. St. Joe’s started out cold from the field but controlled the game with hard-nosed defense and the occasional press while dominating the offensive glass. This was highlighted by a possession where the Hawks got four consecutive offensive rebounds but only scored one point as a result.
Johnson stayed aggressive on offense for Texas but was off on his shot and was impacted by the on-ball defense of St. Joe’s.
Mark, Pope and Johnson all hit a triple for Texas in about a two-minute span ahead of halftime to give the Longhorns their biggest lead at 32-26 but the Hawks responded with a free throw from Haskins 3-pointer from Brown before halftime to cut the lead to 32-30.
The defense from the Hawks ramped up even more, as the Longhorns were stuck in the mud on offense and had little to no ball movement. St. Joe’s was hardly much better, but its defense continued to set the tone and eventually swung the momentum.
Larry then hit back-to-back triples as the two teams traded buckets on five straight possessions. Consecutive dunks from Ajogbor and Fleming but the Hawks in front 50-46 with 8:25 to play, but Larry continued to take over. He hit 1,000 career points with a driving layup before finding Kaluma for a corner triple to put Texas back in front at 51-50.
It didn’t stop there for Larry, who found a cutting Shedrick for a dunk before diving on a loose ball down at the other end to secure possession for Texas, which had built a 55-52 lead with 3:13 left. The Longhorns used the momentum to put together an 8-0 run, which essentially sealed the win in a game where scoring felt hard to come by.
Johnson then closed the game out with six points in the final 4:11 of action, including a pullup jumper at the foul line to put Texas up 63-55 with 1:19 left.
Texas will host Delaware State on Nov. 29.
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