Texas coal plant to transition to solar and battery with federal aid

A South Texas coal-fired power plant will be converted into a solar and battery facility with $1.4 billion in federal funding, reducing pollution and supporting local jobs.

Juan Salinas II reports for The Texas Tribune.

In short:

The San Miguel Electric Cooperative plant in Atascosa County will transition to a renewable energy facility with U.S. Department of Agriculture funding.
The move will cut 1.8 million tons of annual climate pollution and leave 14 coal-fired plants in Texas.
Environmentalists and local officials welcome the change, citing hopes for cleaner water and better land remediation.

Key quote:

“For years, folks in my county have been worried about water contamination from San Miguel’s lignite mine, so with this announcement, we are hopeful that McMullen County’s water will be clean long into the future.”

— McMullen County Judge James Teal

Why this matters:

The shift from coal to renewables aligns with broader efforts to combat climate change while addressing environmental justice concerns. Cleaning up pollution and protecting water resources could improve health and economic outcomes in rural South Texas.

www.texastribune.org

Photo by Ella Ivanescu on Unsplash

Leading cardiology societies call for stronger protections against environmental hazards

Four international cardiology societies — the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation — issued a joint statement urging for regulatory action to address the role of toxic environmental exposures in cardiovascular disease.

In short:

Growing evidence shows environmental exposures — including air pollution, chemical pollution, plastics, climate change, and artificial noise and light — may be contributing significantly to the rise in cardiovascular disease.
Of these hazards, air pollution poses the greatest risk, likely by causing inflammation in the lungs and throughout the circulatory system.
The multiple hazards associated with climate change like extreme heat and wildfires may also threaten cardiovascular health via dehydration, arrhythmia, and severe coronary events (such as heart attacks).

Key quote:

"A unified voice was needed to state clearly that the science is settled—and that continued inaction reflects political and structural inertia rather than scientific uncertainty.”

- Lead study author Dr. Thomas Münzel, via JAMA Medical News

Why this matters:

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, contributing to roughly 44% of deaths from noncommunicable diseases. When speaking with JAMA Medical News, lead author Dr. Münzel contributed at least 1 in 5 of the 20 million annual global cardiovascular disease deaths to environmental hazards. The authors of this statement call on both policymakers and clinicians to address environmental exposures “with the same seriousness as traditional cardiovascular risks,” fully integrating them into regulations and patient care.

Related EHN coverage:

More resources:

American Heart Association: Environmental exposures and pediatric cardiology

Münzel, T. et al. (2026). Environmental Stressors and Cardiovascular Health: Acting Locally for Global Impact in a Changing World: A Statement of the European Society of Cardiology, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the World Heart Federation. Circulation

Anderer, S. (2026). Cardiology Societies Urge Action on Environmental Risk Factors. JAMA Medical News

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