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Environment

Money for city parks, facilities dwindling

James Snow, director of Capital Delivery Services for the city, on Wednesday gave the City Council Audit and Finance Committee a detailed view of how money has been spent from bonds approved by voters in 2006, 2012 and 2018, with…

Watershed Protection Department releases 2023 annual report

Last week, the city’s Watershed Protection Department released its 2023 annual report. The report breaks down the department’s work to manage the city’s creeks, drainage systems and water quality programs. Regarding building and maintaining drainage infrastructure, the department completed eight…

Parks board delays request for traffic study, shuttle service for Zilker Park

The Parks and Recreation Board has further delayed a transportation impact analysis of Zilker Park that was originally suggested by City Council two years ago because of concerns the study could draw money away from other parks programs and budget…

Austin Energy fine-tuning plans for reliable, carbon-free power by 2035

Austin Energy leaders have prioritized reliability of the utility’s power generation at all times as one of the most important components of its next resource generation plan, which is expected to come before City Council for approval in March. During…

ERCOT asks Texans to conserve electricity again Tuesday morning amid freezing temperatures

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is asking people to conserve electricity Tuesday morning, the second such request issued by the grid operator this week as freezing weather continues to grip the state. In a media release Monday, ERCOT asked…

Worried about the Texas power grid? Here's what to expect from the incoming arctic blast.

It’s almost mid-January, and there are tomatoes growing in my backyard in Austin. That might seem like a strange way to start an article on the Texas power grid. But as the state faces its first big freeze this winter,…

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Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District installing two monitoring wells at Garrison and Zilker parks

This month, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District will install two new scientific monitoring wells in Garrison and Zilker parks. The new wells will be used to collect information about Edwards Aquifer water level and quality, as well as further…

Commission discusses spike in animals leaving shelter without being spayed or neutered

The Animal Advisory Commission at its regular meeting Jan. 8 pondered an unexpected rise in the number of animals leaving the shelter without being spayed or neutered. In an overview of monthly reports, Jason Garza of the Animal Services Department…

New working group will analyze city process for euthanizing injured deer

The Animal Advisory Commission last week voted to form a working group dedicated to examining the city’s protocol on euthanizing injured deer. Former commissioner and North Austin resident Craig Nazor brought the issue before the commission at its meeting on…

Energy officials warn of winter blackout risk in Texas and beyond

Outside of the Sand Hill natural gas power plant, near Austin, workers have installed a windbreak in case a big winter storm hits again. The sturdy plastic shrink wrap is stretched tight across scaffolding at the bottom of the plant,…

Summer heat surge caused $115M overspend at Austin Energy

High energy usage brought on by months of severe summer heat caused Austin Energy to spend far more than the utility forecast through the end of the last fiscal year, with a forthcoming rate increase likely to help restore its…

Bald eagle sightings appear to be on the rise in Austin

A slew of bald eagle sightings in Austin has excited birders and nonbirders alike. The iconic raptors are not particularly common in the area, but, according to reports by citizen scientists, their numbers appear to be on the rise. The…

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