power lines
Newsletter
Credit: Fré Sonneveld/Unsplash
Oilfield power lines may have started Texas wildfires
A lack of regulation on power lines used by oilfield operators in Texas has led to several wildfires, with state agencies unable to enforce safety standards.
Emily Foxhall, Jayme Lozano Carver, and Carlos Nogueras Ramos report for The Texas Tribune.
In short:
- Unregulated power lines built by oil and gas operators are suspected of starting wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, with state agencies claiming no authority to regulate these lines.
- State Rep. Ken King seeks a rule from the Railroad Commission to define its regulatory role after two February fires were linked to oilfield equipment.
- Since 2005, power lines have caused over 14,000 fires in Texas, but there is no specific tracking of oilfield line-related incidents.
Key quote:
“I don’t need to do their job too, but that’s basically what I’m having to do in order to get change.”
— Craig Cowden, ranch owner
Why this matters:
Unregulated oilfield power lines pose a significant fire hazard in Texas, threatening lives, property and the environment. Regulatory gaps leave residents vulnerable and underscore the need for clearer oversight and accountability in energy infrastructure safety.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Photo by Andrey Metelev on Unsplash
3 takeaways from Biden’s big transmission plan
Thousands of miles of new power lines are needed to send clean electricity across the U.S. to meet ambitious climate goals. The looming question for the Biden administration is how to get them built.
Newsletter
Photo by Andrey Metelev on Unsplash
The US power grid quietly survived record summer heat waves without outages
With little acknowledgment and no applause, the power grid across the continental United States this summer quietly pulled off what may have been its most impressive feat ever.
Newsletter
Photo by Jerry Wang on Unsplash
California’s race against time to build power lines
Want to live in a world where heat waves stop getting hotter, wildfires stop getting bigger, water shortages stop getting more severe and storms stop getting more destructive? Then you should probably cozy up to electric power lines.
Newsletter
2022 was a remarkable year for the climate. Here’s what to expect in 2023
Get ready for more hot weather — and the rapid deployment of clean technologies.
Newsletter
Burying just 5 percent of power lines can improve resilience in hurricane-prone regions
As extreme weather events become more intense and compound one another, more climate-resilient infrastructure is needed to better protect vulnerable populations.
Is burying power lines fire-prevention magic, or magical thinking?
With power lines sparking more wildfires as climate change makes landscapes more flammable and drives a movement to “electrify everything,” a simple solution is gaining acceptance despite the cost.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
