houston
Frustration rises in Houston after storm leaves millions without power
Houston residents face prolonged power outages following Hurricane Beryl, with millions still in the dark days after the storm hit.
J. David Goodman and Ivan Penn report for The New York Times.
In short:
- Hurricane Beryl caused extensive power outages in Houston, impacting up to 2.7 million customers.
- CenterPoint Energy promised power restoration for one million customers by Wednesday but many still lack power.
- State officials question the utility's preparedness and response, given the storm's intensity was not unexpected.
Key quote:
“For a Category 1 hurricane to result in over a million customer outages in its immediate aftermath demonstrates that there is plenty of need for the resiliency hardening investments.”
— Wei Due, energy expert, PA Consulting
Why this matters:
Houston’s infrastructure struggles to handle increasing severe weather, highlighting the need for investment in more resilient systems. Residents face recurring disruptions, raising concerns over future preparedness and response effectiveness.
Houston tackles cleanup after Gulf Coast storm damages city
Houston residents began cleaning up after Hurricane Beryl swept through the Gulf Coast, leaving significant damage and power outages.
In short:
- Hurricane Beryl, a Category 1 storm, caused extensive damage in Houston, including fallen trees, flooded streets, and power outages.
- The storm killed at least three people and left 2.7 million Texas homes without power.
- Residents are now assessing damage, cleaning up, and waiting for power to return.
Key quote:
“The rebuild is going to be significant. There was real damage. But the good news is for Houston, this ain’t our first rodeo.”
— Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator
Why this matters:
Houston, known for its booming energy sector and diverse population, has become a focal point for studying the impacts of severe weather. The city's low-lying geography and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico make it particularly susceptible to hurricanes and heavy rainfall. In recent years, storms like Hurricane Harvey have wreaked havoc, leaving thousands homeless and causing billions in damages.
WATCH: Enduring the “endless” expansion of the nation’s petrochemical corridor
As mounds of dredged material from the Houston Ship Channel dot their neighborhoods, residents are left without answers as to what dangers could be lurking.
In the course of a century, Houston, once known for its magnolia flowers, turned into the “energy capital of the world.” To many, at 52 miles long and deepening under its 11th expansion, the Houston Ship Channel represents its epicenter.
To read and watch a version of this story in Spanish click here. Haz clic aquí para leer este reportaje en español.
The channel hosts hundreds of chemical facilities, some of which have years of documented Clean Air Act violations. Amnesty International called the channel a “sacrifice zone” where fenceline communities, made up predominantly with people of color, are disproportionately exposed to pollution. This is seen as the “cost of doing business,” according to the report.
But to people like Juan Flores and his family, the area is also home.
Flores, who you’ll meet in the video report above, has lived in Galena Park his entire life, and has been surrounded by the Houston Ship Channel’s dredge material deposit sites for as long as he can remember. He even recalls playing in them as a child.
The current 11th expansion of the port will create new dredge deposit sites and will stack new dredge material on old sites. In response to communities’ concerns of potential risks, Port Houston, the local entity that manages the public ports of the channel and is in charge of the expansion alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has said there is no cause for concern. According to the Corps, the material is tested before being placed on the mounds — yet the Corps has stated in the past that they do not test the deposit sites.
Watch the video above to learn more about the stories of these communities and their industrial neighbors.
Editor’s note: This story is part of a two- part series that will highlight the expansion of industry along the Houston Ship Channel – and the channel itself – amidst the landscape of an ever growing industrial footprint and the pollution that comes with it.
Houston residents urge leadership in global energy transition
Nearly 90% of Houstonians believe the city should lead the global shift to alternative energy, a Rice University survey reveals.
In short:
- Crime, housing costs, and the economy are seen as Houston's top problems.
- 81% of residents see the energy transition as crucial for Houston’s economic future.
- Concerns about power outages and the isolated Texas power grid are significant, with 75% of residents worried.
Key quote:
“This belief in and support for Houston’s energy future is encouraging but must also be viewed within the context of a high degree of worry about the Texas energy sector.”
— Survey authors
Why this matters:
The survey indicates that residents are ready to embrace a greener future, recognizing both the economic and environmental benefits of alternative energy. Houstonians' support for this transition emphasizes a growing awareness of climate change and the health impacts of fossil fuels. As one of the nation's energy capitals, Houston's commitment to alternative energy could set a powerful example for other cities grappling with similar challenges.
Heavy rains spur mosquito surge in Houston with climate change worsening the issue
After recent heavy rains in Texas, Houston residents face a severe mosquito infestation, with climate change expected to exacerbate future outbreaks.
Matt Keyser and Dino Grandoni report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Recent heavy rains in Texas have led to an unusually high mosquito population in Houston.
- Warmer temperatures and increased rainfall from climate change are creating ideal mosquito breeding conditions.
- Harris County health officials are working to control mosquito populations to prevent disease spread.
Key quote:
" ... as it gets warmer earlier, we see a larger amount of mosquitoes earlier. We are getting hotter temperatures earlier. This is the impact that climate change has had on Harris County."
— Max Vigilant, director of mosquito and vector control in Harris County
Why this matters:
Experts warn that the situation is more than a seasonal nuisance. With climate change driving increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, including heavier rainfall and warmer temperatures, Houston and other regions could see more frequent and severe mosquito outbreaks. Warmer climates accelerate the mosquito life cycle and expand their habitat, making infestations more common and prolonged.
This surge disrupts daily life and raises public health alarms due to the potential spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and Zika.
Spanish-speaking residents feel left out of permitting process at massive Exxon petrochemical plant in Houston-area
“It is important to ensure meaningful engagement efforts are inclusive and accessible to all diverse members of our communities.”
BAYTOWN, TX — As Exxon Mobil moves forward with federal re-permitting for its massive petrochemical complex in the Houston area, residents remain frustrated with the lack of accessibility and Spanish-language outreach from the state and company.
At issue is Exxon Mobil’s application for its Baytown Olefins Plant permit, which must be approved by the the Texas Commision on Environmental Quality every five years to continue operations.
To read a version of this story in Spanish click here. Haz clic aquí para leer este reportaje en español.
The olefins plant — which produces about 10 billion pounds of petrochemical products annually — is part of Exxon’s petrochemical complex in Baytown, which includes the nation’s third-largest refinery. The renewal has been contested by residents and activists due to pollution concerns and 12 consecutive quarters of Clean Air Act violations at the Exxon Mobile Baytown Complex. If approved, the permit would allow the facility to operate for the next five years.
In addition to pollution, residents have expressed concern over community access to meeting and permitting information, especially for Spanish-speaking residents. The U.S. census estimates that 52.2% of Baytown’s population is Latino and 44.8% of Harris County speaks Spanish. That rate is higher in communities that border industry on the Houston Ship Channel, as high as 68% in some locations.
A public hearing this week — the second in as many months — was held for community members to bring comments or questions to Exxon Mobil or the TCEQ.
At the previous hearing community residents brought up concerns about the meeting notice not being published in Spanish on the TCEQ’s site. TCEQ attorney Amy Browning said that the reconvening was a result of the agency’s failure to “publish (the meeting notice) in Spanish electronically on the commission’s site.”
In addition to the original meeting notice not being published in Spanish, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, or TEJAS, representative Deyadira Arellano pointed out at both meetings that Exxon’s slides related to their plant operations are not translated to Spanish. At this week’s meeting, Exxon approached her in the break period to offer slides in Spanish to her email. However, Arellano said that her frustration resided with the TCEQ.
TEJAS representative Deyadira Arellano pointed out at both meetings that Exxon’s slides related to their plant operations are not translated to Spanish.
Credit: Cami Ferrell for EHN
“The TCEQ should preview these materials ahead of time,” said Arellano. “It is important to ensure meaningful engagement efforts are inclusive and accessible to all diverse members of our communities.”
Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs Manager Aaron Stryk said that they are “continuously working to improve their Spanish language communications” and do provide Baytown-related communications updates in English and Spanish.
“It is important to ensure meaningful engagement efforts are inclusive and accessible to all diverse members of our communities.” - Deyadira Arellano, TEJAS
The TCEQ publishes all public comments and addresses each of them during the permitting process. English-speaking individuals have access to a digital comment interface 24/7 to comment on the permit while the comment period is open. However, Spanish speakers have no accessibility tools provided from the TCEQ to help navigate the English-only interface. Many have to opt to comment in person or mail in their comments and then have their comments translated, according to TCEQ Attorney Christyn Cavasos.
TEJAS has long advocated for better accessibility for Spanish speakers from the TCEQ. The state agency has a history of neglecting Latino and Spanish speaking communities in their outreach, including important air pollution monitoring information.
The permit will undergo a revision phase if needed after the comments have been finalized. Following the revision, the TCEQ will submit the permit to the EPA which has 45 days to reject it. If applicable, emissions units must comply with new federal regulations.
Residentes hispanohablantes de Baytown se sienten excluidos del proceso de permisos de la masiva planta petroquímica de Exxon
“Es importante garantizar que los esfuerzos de participación sean significativamente inclusivos y accesibles para toda la comunidad.”
BAYTOWN, TX — Mientras ExxonMobil avanza en la reautorización del permiso de operación federal para su enorme complejo petroquímico en el área de Houston, los residentes siguen frustrados con la brecha de accesibilidad y divulgación en español por parte del estado y la compañía.
Sobre la mesa está la aplicación del permiso de ExxonMobil para su planta de Olefinas de Baytown, que debe ser aprobado por la Comisión por la Calidad Ambiental de Texas (TCEQ por sus siglas en inglés) cada cinco años para que la planta continúe operando.
Haz clic aquí para leer este reportaje en inglés. To read a version of this story in English click here.
La planta de olefinas— que produce 10 mil millones de libras de productos petroquímicos anualmente — es parte del complejo petroquímico de Exxon en Baytown, que incluye la tercera refinería más grande del país. La renovación ha sido impugnada por residentes y activistas preocupados por la contaminación y por los 12 trimestres consecutivas de violaciones de la Ley del Aire Limpio por parte del complejo de ExxonMobil en Baytown. Si se aprueba, el permiso permitirá que el complejo industrial opere durante los próximos cinco años.
Además de la contaminación, los residentes han expresado su preocupación por el acceso de la comunidad a la información sobre reuniones y permisos, especialmente para los residentes hispanohablantes. El censo de los Estados Unidos estima que el 52,2% de la población de Baytown es latina y el 44,8% del condado de Harris habla español. Esa tasa es mayor en las comunidades que bordean a la industria en el Canal de Navegación de Houston, y alcanza hasta un 68% en algunas localidades.
En la noche del 6 de mayo hubo una reunión pública, la segunda en varios meses, para que los miembros de la comunidad hicieran llegar sus comentarios o preguntas a ExxonMobil o a la TCEQ.
En la reunión primera reunión, los residentes de la comunidad expresaron su preocupación porque el aviso de la reunión no se publicó en español en el sitio de la TCEQ. La abogada de la TCEQ, Amy Browning, dijo que precisamente la nueva convocatoria se debió a que la agencia no había “publicado (el aviso de la reunión) en español electrónicamente en el sitio web”.
Además de que el aviso original de la reunión no fue publicado en español, Deyadira Arellano, representante de Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, o TEJAS, señaló que en ambas reuniones las diapositivas de Exxon relacionadas con las operaciones de su planta no estaban traducidas al español. En la reunión de esta semana, Exxon se acercó a ella en el período de descanso y ofreció enviar diapositivas en español a su correo electrónico. Sin embargo, Arellano dijo que su frustración se dirige a la TCEQ.