How BlackRock Became Texas’ Comeback Kid
Once a blacklisted ESG bogeyman, the Wall Street giant has won back the Republican rulers of Texas as it pours millions into data centers and the gas plants that power them.
oil and gas
Pitted Against Waste
East Texans are uniting to fight oil waste pits in bucolic areas near the Louisiana line—all run by an operator who’s been cited for dozens of violations, and a worker’s death.
Embattled Texas Oilfield Waste Company Fined After Worker’s Death
A 26-year-old employee at McBride Operating in Waskom was killed when a valve blew off a pump last year. Another worker had sued the company two years earlier after being injured on the job.
‘Drill Baby Drill’: Arlington Approves New Site for Fracking Near Daycare and Schools
Arlington has opened new land for fracking for the first time in 12 years, allowing TotalEnergies to drill 10 new gas wells near a daycare center.
A Legal Fight over Legacy Oil Industry Pollution Heats Up in West Texas
A “first of its kind” lawsuit contends that oil companies including Chevron failed to properly plug and decommission wells on private property, challenging common assumptions about plugged wells.
Gulf Coast Petrochemical Buildout Draws Billions in Tax Breaks For Polluters
A new report by the Environmental Integrity Project compiled data on every U.S. plastics plant built, expanded or proposed since 2012, revealing massive growth in Texas.
Port Arthur’s 30-Year Fight for Environmental Justice
A report from the fencelines in the booming Southeast Texas petrochemical corridor.
Oil and Gas Wastewater Spills Pollute the Lone Star State
Pollution from the energy sector has impacted soil, contaminated water resources and killed wildlife while the state resists new regulations.
Texas Court Strikes Down Air Pollution Permit for Gulf Coast Oil Terminal
A judge reversed a 2022 decision by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality which involved its controversial “one-mile rule” to deny hearing requests.
Texas Still Issues Thousands of Permits for Natural Gas Flaring
Advocates say the approval process is more of a "rubber stamp" for oil and gas companies to keep polluting indefinitely.