Livability News - Megaregion

Zero-energy suburb developed in Austin

Attracts low-income buyers

Matt Dietrichson, Feb 07, 12.

Austin developers have been successfully selling homes in a (nearly) net-zero-energy suburb built in 2008.

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Experts say cost of water bound to increase

Low supply, increasing demand

Matt Dietrichson, Feb 07, 12.

As populations continue to rise, experts say access to our limited water supply is destined to become more expensive.

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Hate mail aims to intimidate climate scientist

Unfortunately, nothing new

Matt Dietrichson, Feb 06, 12.

A Texas Tech professor has received a barrage of bitter emails since taking flak from talking heads

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Drought threatens Texas rice production

"A huge, huge deal"

Matt Dietrichson, Feb 06, 12.

Without replenished reservoirs, water managers will have to withhold water from farmers, meaning severe cuts to Texas' million-dollar rice production industry

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Low-income housing project planned for downtown Austin

City's first in decades

Matt Dietrichson, Feb 02, 12.

An Austin nonprofit plans to build the first downtown development in decades to house low-income residents

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Water being trucked to dried up Spicewood, TX

Historic drought still lingers

Matt Dietrichson, Feb 02, 12.

As the historic drought continues, Spicewood is being forced to import water by truck, having previously sold and trucked it out.

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Travis County considering water-use rules for development

Controversial vote pending

Matt Dietrichson, Feb 02, 12.

Travis County commissioners may vote soon on a controversial set of rules as a moratorium on development in the western part of the county is scheduled to end

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State denies bid for Brazos River rights

Large plan lacked specificity

Matt Dietrichson, Jan 27, 12.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has turned away a Brazos River Authority request for more water to sell

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LCRA proposes water plan to meet ‘48% increase in demand’

More to cities, power plants

Matt Dietrichson, Jan 27, 12.

The LCRA published its draft water plan Tuesday, detailing stricter guidelines for releasing water to rice farmers and nearly doubling water reserves for cities

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Texas leads nation in global warming emissions

More than double 2nd place PA

Matt Dietrichson, Jan 12, 12.

New data released by federal officials on Wednesday showed Texas far surpasses other states in industrial emissions of global warming gases.

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