Subtropical Studies

The Monitor- LNG Hearing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 22:20:00 +0000

Texas LNG hearing audio released

By Jonathan Salinas

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has released audio of the public meeting held last Tuesday with Texas LNG where they received questions and comments from residents concerning the necessary air-quality permitting application at the state level.

State Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, requested the meeting after being lobbied by constituents to do so, according to Oliveira, who was in attendance.

Activists representing Save RGV from LNG and the Lower Rio Grande Valley Sierra Club held a rally and press conference prior to the meeting at WashingtonPark.

The meeting was composed of two parts: an informal question and answer period and a formal on-the-record period wherein comments and questions made will be responded to by the TCEQ in a comprehensive document titled Executive Director’s Response to Comments.

Only the formal, on-the-record portion of the meeting was released by TCEQ.

Below are questions from the activists and responses from the TCEQ panel composed of technical reviewer Joel Klumpp, environmental lawyer Sierra Redding, representative from the Public Interest Council Garrett Arthur and Texas LNG Project Manager David Blessner.

To read the question and the rest of the article follow the link below:

http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/texas-lng-hearing-audio-released/article_baf3e216-091a-5175-98e4-5a7f32396b40.html

The Associated Press- Limiting Hydrofluorocarbons

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 22:10:00 +0000

Global deal reached to limit powerful greenhouse gases

By BRADLEY KLAPPER and IGNATIUS SSUUNA

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — Nearly 200 nations have reached a deal, announced Saturday morning after all-night negotiations, to limit the use of greenhouse gases far more powerful than carbon dioxide in a major effort to fight climate change.

The talks on hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, were called the first test of global will since the historic Paris Agreement to cut carbon emissions was reached last year. HFCs are described as the world's fastest-growing climate pollutant and are used in air conditioners and refrigerators. Experts say cutting them is the fastest way to reduce global warming.

President Barack Obama, in a statement Saturday, called the new deal "an ambitious and far-reaching solution to this looming crisis." The spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called it "critically important."

The agreement, unlike the broader Paris one, is legally binding. It caps and reduces the use of HFCs in a gradual process beginning by 2019 with action by developed countries including the United States, the world's second-worst polluter. More than 100 developing countries, including China, the world's top carbon emitter, will start taking action by 2024, when HFC consumption levels should peak.

A small group of countries including India, Pakistan and some Gulf states pushed for and secured a later start in 2028, saying their economies need more time to grow. That's three years earlier than India, the world's third-worst polluter, had first proposed.

"It's a very historic moment, and we are all very delighted that we have come to this point where we can reach a consensus and agree to most of the issues that were on the table," said India's chief delegate, Ajay Narayan Jha.

To continue reading follow the link below:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5b168e763e184c65b1afdd06c6e4fff2/global-deal-reached-limit-powerful-greenhouse-gases

The Monitor- Saving the Monarch

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 21:59:00 +0000

Saving the monarch

By RAUL GARCIA

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — It’s safe to say almost everyone loves monarch butterflies. So, now they are going to get their own safe space on the Island.

City leaders have agreed to create a habitat for monarch butterflies so they have a protected place to stop during their 3,000-mile migratory journey.

Millions of monarch butterflies make their way to central Mexico for the winter, traveling from the Rockies.

At a recent City Council meeting, Island officials agreed to create a lush and vibrant monarch butterfly habitat — a goal that the South Padre Island City Council had in mind.

The proposed site of the habitat is the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center.

The council approved signing the National Wildlife Federation Mayor’s Monarch Pledge.

The National Wildlife Federation is a voice for wildlife, dedicated to protecting wildlife and habitat and inspiring future generations of conservationists.

“I’m looking forward to the projects that we will do and to help increase awareness at the homeowner and business level about monarch butterflies,” SPI Councilwoman Theresa Metty said.

The Mayor’s Monarch Pledge consists of 25 possible action items, of which the mayor and local government chief executives, who have taken the pledge, must commit to at least three within one year.

To read the full story follow the link below:

http://www.themonitor.com/news/saving-the-monarch/article_c4f15284-8780-11e6-8789-33a223f4afdf.html

The Monitor - Conservation Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Soil and Irrigation Conservation Workshop slated for Aug. 24

ROD SANTA ANA

WESLACO – Agricultural producers throughout the Rio Grande Valley are invited to spend half a day with soil, water and farming operations experts who will offer expertise on new technologies in soil and water management, as well as funding opportunities and financial technical support for farming operations, organizers say.

The Soil and Irrigation Conservation Workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco.

The center is located at 2401 E. U.S. Highway 83 in Weslaco. Breakfast and registration begin at 8 a.m. and speakers begin at

8:30 a.m.

“The objective of this educational event is to present research-based information to growers on new technologies that we are already using and others we will soon be using to help growers better manage their soil and water resources,” said Dr. Juan Enciso, the Texas A&M AgriLife Research irrigation engineer in Weslaco.

Enciso said weather stations that calculate heat and chilling units, among other parameters, provide data to an online site that growers can use to better schedule irrigation on a variety of crops, including sugarcane, citrus, corn, cotton, onions and watermelons.

The site can be found at http://southtexasweather.tamu.edu .

“The website also provides historical weather data that one can download,” he said. “This can be especially useful in making a variety of decisions, especially when and how much to irrigate, depending on assorted conditions.”

Enciso said another application will soon be added to the system to calculate water requirements for turf irrigation in urban areas.

“While we’re anxious to share the information we’ve developed and invite growers to use our internet site, we also need the grower input and feedback about our programs,” he said. “They are the end-users and their experiences and opinions are very important in improving our assistance to them.”

Speakers and topics include:

-- Rolando Zamora, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Raymondville, welcome and moderator.

-- Enciso, Victor Gutierrez, AgriLife Extension Texas Water Resources Institute, Weslaco, Internet Weather-Based Tools for Irrigation Management.

-- James Henderson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service agronomist, Corpus Christi, “Soil Health for Maximum Productivity.

-- Ray Hinojosa, USDA NRCS district conservationist, Harlingen, USDA-NRCS Programs.

-- Dr. Ismael E. Badillo-Vargas, Texas A&M AgriLife Research insect vector entomologist, Weslaco, Concepts in Integrated Pest Management.

-- Dr. Enrique Perez, AgriLife Extension county agent for Cameron County, San Benito, Nutrient Management.

-- Chris Perez, USDA-Farm Service Agency county executive director, Harlingen, USDA-FSA Commodity Program.

-- Ricardo Chapa, Texas State Soil, Water Conservation Board regional manager, McAllen, Texas State Soil and Conservation Board.

-- Arnulfo Lerma, USDA-FSA farm loan manager, McAllen, USDA-FMA Farm Loan Programs.

-- Vidal Saenz, Prairie View Cooperative Extension agent, Edinburg, Technical Assistance with FSA Farm Loan Applications.

Enciso said three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available.

For more information, contact your county AgriLife Extension office. In Hidalgo County call Saenz at 956-383-1026; in Cameron County call Perez at 956-361-8236; or in Willacy County, Rolando Zamora at 956-689-2412.

The Brownsville Herald- Starr County Wind Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 03:02:00 +0000

Wind farm project completed in Starr County

BY BERENICE GARCIA

NEAR RIO GRANDE CITY — The latest phase of a wind farm project is now fully operational in Starr County.

Duke Energy Renewables completed its third stage of Los Vientos, which began in 2013.

In Starr County, the company completed stages III, IV, and V, of the project for a total of 426 turbines in the area. The first two Los Vientos projects are located in Willacy County, where the company constructed 171 turbines.

Vestas Wind Systems, a Danish manufacturer of wind turbines supplied 100 V110-2.0 MW turbines for Los Vientos IV and will service the project under a three-year operations and maintenance agreement.

Duke Energy has installed more than 1,500 megawatts of wind energy in the state, which is more than double the wind capacity it owns in other states combined.

“With 500 MW of that total in Starr County, we’d like to thank county leaders and our business partners for helping us deliver clean, low-cost renewable energy to South Texas customers and provide economic benefits to this region,” Rob Caldwell, president of Duke Energy, said in a news release.

“Duke Energy has been a great partner and member of our community,” Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, stated in the release. “We look forward to continuing with them to provide more wind farm opportunities for our residences.”

To read more follow the link below:

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/valley/article_843a403a-6286-11e6-a6dc-4fb55655e42d.html

The Brownsville Herald - Potential Business for Harlingen Port

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 02:59:00 +0000

Mexico’s new energy policy could be boon for Harlingen port

By RICK KELLEY

HARLINGEN — Driven by industrial and power sector demand, the Mexican government is moving to deregulate its energy industry, providing new openings for U.S. gasoline, natural gas and other fuels.

Walker Smith, director of the Port of Harlingen, said the move to deregulate its energy sector could make the Port of Harlingen a much bigger player when it comes to unloading oil, diesel, propane and similar products from barges and putting them into rail or truck tankers for transport across the border.

Mexico’s state petroleum industry, Pemex, can’t keep up with the increasing demand, Smith said.

“I’m getting calls constantly about companies wanting to come into the Port of Harlingen because of where we’re situated and to take advantage of the Los Indios bridge crossing,” he said. Delays there are far shorter than at other border bridge crossings like Reynosa’s.

Smith, speaking before the Harlingen Economic Development Corp. earlier this month, said U.S. companies are prepared to move aggressively to capture a portion of the opening energy market in Mexico.

The Texas Tribune-Agribusinesses polluting waters

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 07:11:00 +0000

How corporate agribusinesses are fouling our waters

By Hayden Hamilton

When most people think of water pollution, they think of pipes dumping toxic chemicals. But a new report quantifies another threat to our water quality: factory farms.

The study from Environment Texas Research & Policy Center shows that big agribusinesses are among the state’s largest water polluters, with Tyson leading the way in the nation.

Using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the report documents the “pollution footprint” of Tyson and four other major agribusinesses, making up an estimated 44 percent of the chicken, beef and pork produced in the United States.

By concentrating thousands of animals on factory farms and slaughtering animals by the millions in big processing plants, corporate agribusinesses create industrial-scale pollution with disastrous consequences for waterways here in Texas and across the country.

In fact, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, agriculture is the probable cause for making more than 690 miles of rivers and streams across the state too polluted for swimming, fishing, drinking or maintaining healthy wildlife.

To continue reading follow link below:

https://www.tribtalk.org/2016/07/18/how-corporate-agribusinesses-are-fouling-our-waters/

LNG Economics- The Brownsville Herald

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 06:13:00 +0000

LNG Market's future cloudy; what could it mean for the port, region?

BY STEVE CLARK | STAFF WRITER

The three liquefied natural gas companies that say they intend to build LNG export terminals at the Port of Brownsville took a gamble when they submitted their “pre-filing” applications to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the major preliminary step toward filing full-fledged FERC applications.

The pre-filing process alone costs millions of dollars, but there is potentially considerably more money to be made if Annova LNG, Rio Grande LNG and Texas LNG win FERC approval, secure long-term customer contracts, sign up investors, build the multi-billion-dollar plants and start liquefying and shipping natural gas to foreign nations.

Rio Grande and Texas LNG expect to go online in 2020. Annova aims to commence operations in late 2021. While conceding that construction of the terminals isn’t a done deal, the companies publicly express confidence that the market will roar back to life in a so-called “second wave” of LNG demand.

Annova spokesman Bill Harris likes to say the process of developing their plant is “a marathon, not a sprint.”

Texas LNG thinks the relatively small size of its facility gives it a niche and thus an edge.

To read the full story follow link below:

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/business/article_31a153c2-3fb8-11e6-b0b9-cbebeaedad05.html

The Monitor- LNG Article

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 22:02:00 +0000

Supporters and opponents have their own spin on plants

BY LISA SEISER

PORT OF BROWNSVILLE — “They are not like belching-smoke-kinds-of facilities, so you don’t see anything. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t emissions.”

Liquefied natural gas expert Susan Sakmar has traveled around the world visiting LNG plants all in an effort to research the topic she found so interesting several years ago. Since that time, she has put together what she calls an unbiased book about LNG called “Energy for the 21st Century.”

Sakmar, an Andrews Kurth Energy Law Scholar who is a visiting professor at the University of Houston Law Center, has a general belief about the impacts of all facets of LNG exporting.

“It can’t be that black and white,” she says about the environmental effects of LNG. “Otherwise, people wouldn’t spend years arguing. Then, when we get into the research, it isn’t black and white. You have to dig deep and it depends on sensitivities, too.”

The U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory reports the greenhouse gas emissions of the LNG process, from natural gas extraction through usage, contributes emissions of mainly carbon dioxide and methane.

About one-tenth of that is directly related to the liquefaction process. Another 5 percent is from the tanker transportation and regasification. About 75 percent of the emissions are from the power plant operations at the end of the process in which the gas goes to homes and is used.

The emissions for the life cycle of LNG are about half that of coal power.

“Are there emissions? Yes,” she said about liquefaction plants like those being proposed at the Port of Brownsville.

To read the full story follow the link below:

http://www.themonitor.com/premium/supporters-and-opponents-have-their-own-spin-on-plants/article_b06bca5c-3c1b-11e6-925a-1facf2a1e010.html

LNG company files for FERC- The Brownsville Herald

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 May 2016 15:25:00 +0000

LNG company files for FERC approval; opposition responds

By STEVE CLARK Staff Writer

NextDecade LLC, one of three companies that want to build a liquefied natural gas export terminal at the Port of Brownsville, on May 5 filed an application with the U.S. Federal Regulatory Commission for authorization to build and operate Rio Grande LNG, the proposed export facility, and Rio Bravo pipeline, a planned 137-mile pipeline to provide natural gas to the plant.

NextDecade said it expects to receive FERC authorization by the end of the first quarter of 2017 and will make a Final Investment Decision — whether or not to build the terminal — also in 2017. If the project moves forward, NextDecade expects to begin exporting LNG by the end of 2020.

Texas LNG, another one of the three companies with plans to export LNG from the port, filed its FERC application in late March.

NextDecade CEO Kathleen Eisbrenner said her company sees a “robust appetite for U.S. LNG on the long-term basis” around the world despite currently low oil and gas prices.

“This interest reaffirms the price competitiveness of U.S. LNG for customers looking to diversify their gas supply on a global level,” she said.

In response to NextDecade’s FERC filing, Jim Chapman of the anti-LNG group “Save RGV From LNG” released a statement describing the company’s plans as “a threat to the local South Padre Island and Port Isabel economy, which is currently thriving and actually supports the entire Rio GrandeValley region.”

“Rio Grande/NextDecade LNG is touting the 200 jobs they bring, but they don’t talk about the several thousands of existing jobs which will be threatened by massive industrialization and pollution,” he said. “Fishermen, oystermen, shrimpers and beach and nature tourism depend on clean air, clean water and a high-quality fish and wildlife habitat.”

Chapman characterized LNG as “a dangerous business” that uses highly volatile gases to liquefy natural gas in order to transport it overseas. He noted that the terminal would be built 2.7 miles from Port Isabel and, in the event of an explosion, Port Isabel residents would be forced to evacuate.

sclark@brownsvilleherald.com

Link to story

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/business/article_3decdd18-17c7-11e6-a9e1-3f34ce2c1541.html

Active Tourism- Port Isabel-South Padre Press

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 13:43:00 +0000

Town pledges $10,000 for active tourism

By MARTHA McCLAIN

Laguna Vista officials this week pledged $10,000 to fund a Brownsville-based transportation plan to develop an active tourism strategy throughout the South Texas region.

Geared for tourists who prefer active vacations, the plan focuses on bicyclists who, as a whole, are highly educated and spend more and stay longer at their destinations, said Ramiro Gonzalez with the City of Brownvsille.

Proposed is a bike trail possibly connecting the Palo Alto, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, the Fine Arts Museums, South Padre Island beaches, and potentially the Bahia Grande Ecological Center projected in Laguna Vista.

The local Eco Center’s construction is contingent upon award of grants through the Coastal Restoration Funding for Texas from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill grant program, otherwise known as the RESTORE Act. County Commissioner David Garza said he is working with Congressman Filemon Vela and the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife on the Bahia Grande project that would involve building a visitors’ center on the Town of Laguna Vista-owned 23-acre tract of land located adjacent to the Stripes Convenience Store on Hwy. 100. That grant application for the first phase of development is being submitted today, he said.

To continue reading go to:

http://portisabelsouthpadre.com/2016/04/15/town-pledges-10000-for-active-tourism/

Water Resource Education-The City of Edinburg News Archive

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 13:38:00 +0000

City Continues Water Resource Protection Education Efforts

January 17, 2014

EDINBURG, Texas As part of regular efforts to protect one of our most valuable resources, City of Edinburg officials spent time with local students Friday to educate them about how stormwater contamination impacts the water we all use.

City of Edinburg Director of Public Works and Engineering Ponciano Longoria explained the serious consequences of failing to do your own part in keeping stormwater clean. He gave an interactive presentation before several Economedes High School classes showing how water drains to the Laguna Madre, an important and unique ecosystem by South Padre Island.

Longoria said polluted stormwater contaminates the water system it drains into; causes water shortages and leads to flooding because it clogs drainage systems, especially if illegal dumping is involved.

The only thing that can go into a storm drain is stormwater and stormwater is water that comes from the sky. Nothing else, Longoria said.

He explained keeping our streets clean is important because the majority of rainwater in urban areas becomes runoff that travels untreated into storm drainage systems that lead to the Laguna Madre. This happens because most surfaces in urban areas such as concrete, pavement, sidewalks and buildings are impervious, meaning they don't absorb water like the ground does.

The City of Edinburg is a member of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Stormwater Task Force, along with more than a dozen other municipalities in the region.

Tips to avoid polluting stormwater include picking up pet waste, properly disposing of grass clippings or leaves in the trash or by composting and never dumping your car's oil on the ground or in the storm drain.

Because of the lifecycle of water, the golden rule is: If you wouldn't want to drink it or swim in it, don't let it go down the storm drain.

Longoria helped students understand the area's waterways, including the two major ones, the Rio Grande and Arroyo Colorado, all lead to the Laguna Madre, one of only six hypersaline lagoons in the world and the only one in the U.S. It is a diverse wildlife habitat and one of the foremost recreation destinations in the country.

The Rio Grande, some 1,800 miles in length, has many wildlife species. Some of these are only found in the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande is on the WWF list of the 10 Rivers Most at Risk.

Some students expressed concern about swimming at South Padre Island after learning about pollution, but Longoria said there's still time to prevent further damage.

It all begins with us,he said. We have to take care of each other.

To help, follow the Dirty Dozen tips pictured with this story and report illegal dumping. Don't take it upon yourself to stop an illegal dumper. Write down their license plate number if possible and call the police department immediately. Violators face citations, fines and, in some cases, jail time. Call the City's Stormwater Specialist at (956) 388-8211 or (956) 388-8999 to investigate the dump site.

LNG seeks local vendors-Port Isabel-South Padre Press Article

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 14:14:00 +0000

LNG seeks local vendors

By DINA ARÉVALO

Dozens of local vendors crowded into a conference room on the first floor of the Hilton Garden Inn on South Padre Island for a workshop hosted by Rio Grande LNG Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, on the sidewalk out past the hotel’s long driveway stood a small group of demonstrators armed with boldly printed signs which read “No LNG.”

The tug-o-war to influence what image of LNG is projected to the public continues. On one side, industry representatives were enthusiastic about the progress being made by the billion dollar company which hopes to be one of three companies to construct a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal along the Brownsville Ship Channel. On the other, local members of the grassroots movement, Save RGV from LNG, are determined to keep their voices heard as they protest against these companies in a state that has historically been friendly towards the energy industry.

To continue reading go to:

http://portisabelsouthpadre.com/2016/04/15/lng-seeks-local-vendors/

Can neighborhoods be revitalized without gentrifying them?-The Nation Article

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 14:02:00 +0000

Can Neighborhoods Be Revitalized Without Gentrifying Them?

Baltimore’s new housing plan could provide a form of neighborhood uplift that benefits communities, not developers.

By: Michelle Chen

Last year, the death of Freddie Gray in police custody placed his neighborhood in a tragic spotlight, highlighting an all-too common urban misery: epidemic poverty, blighted lots, and shattered homes. Gray’s Baltimore has become notorious as the site of failed “urban renewal” projects, rife with liberal talking points but showing precious little progress in alleviating poverty and joblessness. There’s now a plan to generate change from the inside out, creating community housing as a source of collective healing...

To see more go to:

http://www.thenation.com/article/trusting-baltimore-communities/

RGV on America's Poorest Cities List-Texas Monthly Article

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:39:00 +0000

Rio Grande Valley Tops List of “America’s Poorest Cities”

By Jason Cohen

Last month, Harlingen topped a Cost of Living survey, earning it the title of “America’s Least Expensive City. And neighboring McAllen came in third.

Now, the inevitable flip side to such data. The two Rio Grande Valley metropolitan areas have finished no. 1(McAllen-Edinburg-Mission) and 2 (Brownsville-Harlingen) on a list of “America’s Poorest Cities” (or, if you prefer, 365th and 366th on a list of “America’s Richest Cities”) by the website 24-7 Wall Street.

- See more at: http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/rio-grande-valley-tops-list-of-americas-poorest-cities/

Texas Monthly article What Are The Most Walkable Neighborhoods In Texas?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 18:35:00 +0000

What Are The Most Walkable Neighborhoods In
Texas?

By Dan Solomon

Texas cities don’t have a great rep for walkability. Like, you technically can walk around most cities in Texas, but doing so isn’t always super pleasant. Blame it on the relentless sunshine, the lack of sidewalks, the fact that everything is spread out because it was mostly built with cars in mind, or a population that would rather drive—but the fact is that, when you compare any city in Texas to, say, New York, San Francisco, Miami, or Chicago, you’re going to wish you had your car.

See more at: http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/walkable-neighborhoods-texas/

LNG Article from The Brownsville Herald

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Lease option fees generated $4.4 million last year

By STEVE CLARK Staff Writer of The Herald

From the perspective of Port of Brownsville officials, liquefied natural gas is a win even if the port never sees a single LNG facility get built.

Plans by three companies that want to build LNG liquefaction/export terminals at the port are under review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Environmentalists have been highly critical of the plans, which have also caused nervousness among some local officials.

A global glut of natural gas makes bringing new export capacity online unfeasible at present, though the companies eyeing the port — Annova, NextDecade and Texas LNG — are planning far ahead and wouldn’t be operational until around 2020.

In the meantime, the port is collecting lease option payments from those companies. Port commission chairman Ralph Cowen said that through December, the three LNG companies paid more than $4.4 million in nonrefundable lease option fees on 2,280 acres. In 2016, the port expects to collect $1.3 million, he said.

Before the LNG companies came along, the land was only generating grazing fees — $2 an acre, Cowen said.

“We would get probably somewhere in the neighborhood of $3,500 a year,” he said...

To see the full article follow go to the below link:

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/premium/article_db39be78-f6ee-11e5-8825-cb6b8741c8d2.html

Article from San Jose Mercury News BUSINESS section

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 17:45:00 +0000

Recycling tech gadgets to reduce environmental pollution

By George Avalos, gavalos@bayareanewsgroup.com

The Silicon Valley innovation miracle that has ushered in dizzying new ways for people to live, work and play also has intensified the pressure to find environmentally responsible ways to dispose of gadgets rendered obsolete.

"This is more complex than cans and bottles," said Jeff Hunts, manager of the CalRecycle electronic waste recycling program. "The b ottle or can you drank from will soon become another bottle or can. E-waste is much more complicated."

Responsible disposal of electronic devices may require solutions that can match the innovation that went into the creation of those phones, TVs, games and drones...

To see the full article go to:

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29633387/recycling-tech-gadgets-reduce-environmental-pollution

Change in hunting program at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 18:41:00 +0000

Laguna Atascosa
Picture taken from U.S. FWS website

This upcoming hunting season, a new system is being offered through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Those that become a part of this new system won't have to re-register every year; all that is need is a onetime online registration. For more information follow the link below.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_5bcfffb8-dc3a-11e5-89cf-97642d2d8be5.html

noreply@blogger.com (H DeYoe) — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 20:50:00 +0000

Next Step for a Second SPI Causeway: Getting Developers Educated

A public meeting will be held March 1 at 9 a.m. at the

Hilton Garden Inn on SPI.

Environmental clearance for the project is expected in fall

2016.

See the Brownsville-Herald link below:

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/premium/article_f2fc9a44-ca2a-11e5-bb23-b771f301490c.html

Importance of Trees in South Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 02:17:00 +0000

Importance of Trees in South Texas

By J. Cantu

With a steady increase of the world’s population now residing in cities, there is greater need to understand how the complex interactions between the natural environment and humans affect ecosystem services on multiple levels, especially for those that are particularly important in the functioning and resilience of urban areas. Ecosystem services, or the goods or benefits derived from nature, provide mankind with most necessities of life and survival (Brown, Bergstrp et al. 2007, Wratten, Sandhu et al. 2013), and are often divided into separate categories : supporting services (such as water and nutrient cycling), provisioning services (i.e., production of food, fuel, and timber), regulating services (such as rainwater retention, carbon sequestration), and cultural services (aesthetic and spiritual values) (Sandhu and Wratten 2013). We know nature provides a multitude of services to the community, yet a commonly underappreciated function, is the growth of urban trees.

This is a common sight when it rains in the valley. When looking at the street, many buildings, streets, and sidewalks can be seen. These impervious surfaces prevent water from draining and causes flooding. On the other hand, there is only a handful of trees that can be seen. Trees function like retention/detention structures (Nowak and Dwyer 2007), ultimately slowing down the rate of runoff. As the amount of impervious surfaces increases with urbanization, it becomes increasingly difficult to mitigate storm water runoff and cost-effective options become limited (Barber, King et al. 2003). Due to urban areas consisting of mostly impermeable structures, rainwater tends to collect and cause flooding. When flooding can be attributed to inadequate city drainage, this can be a result of poor urbanization practices (Pelling 2003).

Anyone who has lived in the Rio Grande Valley, knows about the valley heat, especially in summer. Urban trees cast shade and can shield from the wind, in which alters the neighboring heat islands which can directly reduce solar heat gain through windows, walls, and roofs (Akbari 2002). Trees also lower surrounding air temperatures through evapotranspiration cooling, which can in turn lead to cooler temperatures and less smog formation (McPherson, Nowak et al. 1997, Akbari 2002). According to Dwyer, McPherson et al. (1992), the annual space air-conditioning and heating cost for a home with efficiently placed trees can be 4% lower, while a home with conflicting placed trees can cost up to 9% more.

Trees also help sequester a range of pollutants, even the pesky greenhouse gases. Trees sequester carbon from the atmosphere during their growing phase. Although trees are not the answer for reducing atmospheric carbon, they work as a short term carbon sink as they grow (Jo and McPherson 1995). Airborne pollutants are also a consequence of urbanization, and the removal of airborne particulates is a health benefit that is of interest (Jim and Chen 2009). These airborne chemicals can be sequestered as well by trees, allowing people to avoid harmful pollutants. If urban forests can be promoted as means of mitigating pollution within the scope of urban sustainability, then they can be used to improve quality of life for people around the world (Escobedo, Kroeger et al. 2011).

In a study completed on the University of Texas- Pan American campus, four regulating services (rainwater retention, electricity savings by shade cast, pollution and carbon sequestration) were estimated and valuated. As seen in the figure, the trees on campus provide services the university. These trees have worth and these trees are not just bound by the services described above. These few services only cover a fraction of what trees can do for the community. These above services only slightly cover the regulating services group. Trees also provide provisioning services (lumber and fruits), cultural services (education and recreation), and supporting services (habitat and biodiversity).

Trees should not be considered only as money sinks, but should be seen more as assets. Trees provide a plethora of services, and should be appreciated for it. With this knowledge, the old proverb rings true, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is today.”

Population Growth in Texas with Emphasis on South Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 14:49:00 +0000

Population Growth in Texas with Emphasis on South Texas

Throughout the world, an ever-increasing population has shown to become a concern regarding space and resources. With resources already limited, there has been interest to implement more sustainable methods of harvesting resources and methods of usage. There have been multiple estimates done to show how the population will increase in the future. Here we will show how the population in Texas is predicted to increase with a focus on south Texas.

Figure 1. Projected Population in Texas from 2010 to 2050¹

In a population projection compiled by the Office of the State Demographer and the Texas State Data Center, three different migration scenarios were considered. As shown in Figure 1, there is a scenario with zero migration, one with migration patterns observed in Texas between 2000-2010 (scenario 1.0) and another with half the migration of 2000-2010 (scenario 0.5)¹. These three trends show significantly different population outcomes. The 1.0 migration scenario produces almost triple the population of the zero migration option. Growth in Texas will be greatest in four areas- Dallas, Houston, Austin and the Rio Grande Valley (Fig. 2). One of the notable features of south Texas that will be affected by population growth is high biodiversity (lots of species of plants and animals). As with humans, these organisms need space and resources which will become less common.

Figure 2. Counties along the southern border and select counties in the Panhandle are expected to experience rapid growth now to 2050. Source: http://osd.state.tx.us/Publications/2014-11_ProjectionBrief.pdf

With the inevitable increase in population, people must consider the availability of resources. Such resources would include water, agricultural products, mining products and even space. The Texas Water Development Board released a report for south Texas called Region M (Table 1) with the expected population increase from 2020 to 2070. As can be seen, the population of south Texas is expected to roughly triple in the next 50 years. With this increase in population life in the LRGV will change; there will be great increase in the development of land, a greater need for already limited water, a greater demand of a variety of resources, decrease in air quality, etc. This increase in population will not only effect people, but will also spread to other animals. The development of land for human use reduces the land available for native plants and animals, which can endanger their populations and even further endanger already sensitive populations.

Table 1 Projected Population for Counties in the LRGV²

Examining the range of impacts a larger human population can have on the surrounding environment should be considered such as habitat loss and/or degradation. A population (human or animal) must be able to survive with the resources available and to do so resources must be managed in a sustainable manner.To sustain any human or animal population, the availability of resources must be done in a sustainable manner to maintain adequate yields for present and future populations. People might also consider the effect that the increase of human population will have on the other living creatures. Animals also need space to populate and food sources (like plants) to be readily available. Many animals are already suffering from the presence of humans, especially animals that require large roam areas, such as deer, bison, moose, and elephants.

noreply@blogger.com (H DeYoe) — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 21:20:00 +0000

Sept. 15- Public Hearing for proposed natural gas well in Edinburg

The hearing will be at Edinburg City Hall. This well site is the second site proposed by the company, Royal Production Company. The first was in McAllen and was not received well by residents near the proposed drill site.

See link below for Monitor article on the hearing:

http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/public-hearing-set-for-natural-gas-well-in-edinburg/article_e4a63848-50b7-11e5-84bd-ffead7e6c686.html?mode=jqm

For images of gas wells being drilled see:

http://www.northamericandrillingcorp.com/

Converting natural gas to liquid (GTL process)

noreply@blogger.com (H DeYoe) — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 16:04:00 +0000

See the links below to get details on the processes used to convert natural gas to liquid:

From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_to_liquids

From U.S. Energy Information Administration:
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=15071

U.S. Natural gas fields (by state)
http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ngqs/ngqs.cfm?f_report=RP7

Natural gas conversion technologies workshop, Houston, January 2013
http://www.arpa-e.energy.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/De_Klerk_NatGas_Pres.pdf

Shell Oil GTL site:
http://www.shell.com/global/future-energy/natural-gas/gtl.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwz6KtBRDwgq-LsKjMk9kBEiQAuaxWUuTAMGbm-rCdvf8jAT4yw17fupF_X46mU_rzBRbnCtEaArMS8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Gas to Liquids Impact:
http://energyoutlook.blogspot.com/2006/01/gas-to-liquids-impact.html

http://www.sasolcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/GTL_Environment.pdf Gas to Liquids Impact

Getting and Producing Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 03:15:00 +0000

Getting and Producing Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)

Figure 1: Hydraulic Fracturing⁴

Natural gas, along with oil, is found in deposits that form below the ground in geological formations that consist of shales, which are tight rock formations that can be a mile or more below the earth’s surface². To obtain the gas deposits people must drill into the subsurface using a combination of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling.

Before drilling can start scientists use imaging technologies to locate the gas reservoirs². When the reservoir is located drilling of the well can begin, which takes about 6 to 8 weeks². Once completed, hydraulic fracturing (Figure 1) is used to release the natural gas from the tight shale formation². The natural gas is then brought to the surface where it then gets transported to a pipeline to be distributed for processing and use².

Figure 2: LNG Process⁵

Natural gas processing consists of several stages (Figure 2). First, the gas needs to be treated to remove impurities such as carbon dioxide and organic sulfur compounds since too much CO₂ can raise the temperature at which the gas will freeze³. Once these compounds have been removed, the gas must be dehydrated since the presence of water can cause the gas to freeze during the liquefaction process³. Mercury is then removed since it is corrosive and can damage the LNG heat exchangers used in the liquefaction process³.

After all of the contaminants are removed, the gas is cooled down by a variety of processes to a finished temperature of about -260 F (-160 C). The finished product is then stored at approximately atmospheric pressure and then eventually transported.

The conversion of natural gas to LNG is a process that reduces its volume by about 600 times¹. This reduction in volume is beneficial since the resulting product can be easily transported via cargo ships in high abundance. Once delivered to its destination, the LNG is heated to its gaseous state so it can be distributed to homes and businesses¹.

Exponents correlate to references

Works Cited

1. Center for Liquefied Natural Gas. (2015). Basics. Retrieved from About LNG.

2. Texas Natural Gas Now. (2015). How We Get It. Retrieved June 24, 2015

3. The University of Oklahoma. (n.d.). Refrigeration Cycles. Retrieved from The University of Oklahoma.

4. Figure 1 taken from Total E&P Denmark B.V. (n.d.). What is Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking)? Retrieved from Total E&P Denmark B.V.: http://en.skifergas.dk/technical-guide/what-is-hydraulic-fracturing.aspx

5. Figure 2 taken from Goldboro LNG. (2012-2015). What is LNG? Retrieved from Goldboro LNG: http://goldborolng.com/about-lng/what-is-lng/

Subtropical Studies

The Monitor- LNG Hearing

Texas LNG hearing audio released

The Associated Press- Limiting Hydrofluorocarbons

Global deal reached to limit powerful greenhouse gases

The Monitor- Saving the Monarch

Saving the monarch

The Monitor - Conservation Workshop

Soil and Irrigation Conservation Workshop slated for Aug. 24

The Brownsville Herald- Starr County Wind Farm

Wind farm project completed in Starr County

The Brownsville Herald - Potential Business for Harlingen Port

Mexico’s new energy policy could be boon for Harlingen port

The Texas Tribune-Agribusinesses polluting waters

How corporate agribusinesses are fouling our waters

LNG Economics- The Brownsville Herald

LNG Market's future cloudy; what could it mean for the port, region?

The Monitor- LNG Article

Supporters and opponents have their own spin on plants

LNG company files for FERC- The Brownsville Herald

LNG company files for FERC approval; opposition responds

Active Tourism- Port Isabel-South Padre Press

Town pledges $10,000 for active tourism

Water Resource Education-The City of Edinburg News Archive

LNG seeks local vendors-Port Isabel-South Padre Press Article

LNG seeks local vendors

Can neighborhoods be revitalized without gentrifying them?-The Nation Article

﻿Can Neighborhoods Be Revitalized Without Gentrifying Them?

Baltimore’s new housing plan could provide a form of neighborhood uplift that benefits communities, not developers.

RGV on America's Poorest Cities List-Texas Monthly Article

Texas Monthly article What Are The Most Walkable Neighborhoods In Texas?

LNG Article from The Brownsville Herald

Lease option fees generated $4.4 million last year

Article from San Jose Mercury News BUSINESS section

Recycling tech gadgets to reduce environmental pollution

Change in hunting program at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Importance of Trees in South Texas

Population Growth in Texas with Emphasis on South Texas

Converting natural gas to liquid (GTL process)

Getting and Producing Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)

Works Cited

Can Neighborhoods Be Revitalized Without Gentrifying Them?