Gulf Coast

Gulf Coast

Thousands of pounds of 'forever chemicals' have been injected into Texas oil and gas wells, study finds

A new report from a public health watchdog found that more than 40,000 pounds of PFAS has been injected into more than 1,000 wells across Texas — and warned that the chemicals could pose a risk to public health.

Gulf Coast

‘Sacrifice zone’: Gulf Coast helps meet global natural gas needs, but at what cost?

A string of new LNG plants threatens fragile coastal communities and delays a response to the worldwide climate crisis.

Gulf Coast

Bill would end eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines

A Louisiana legislator wants to help keep landowners from losing their property to pipelines needed for the dozens of carbon capture projects proposed around the state.

Gulf Coast

New state utility regulator wants to reduce rates, introduce renewable mandates

Davante Lewis intends to use the momentum to take on utility giants such as Entergy and move the state toward more renewable energy in his first six-year term on Louisiana’s Public Service Commission. 

Gulf Coast

Major US railroad merger could bring more tar sands to southeast Texas

A major merger could create the first direct route from Canadian tar sands mines to the Gulf Coast, while another proposed route would ship more of the polluting fuel from Utah.

Gulf Coast

LNG export terminals pose a growing and invisible threat: air pollution

Residents around existing LNG facilities in Louisiana already notice the smell and irritants from nearby terminals. With more under construction, air quality is poised to worsen.

Gulf Coast

As fracking increases in the Barnett Shale, Arlington city leaders avoid scrutiny

With demand for natural gas surging during the Russia-Ukraine war, Texans say their homes are on the frontlines of new drilling.

Gulf Coast

How ocean wind power could help the oil industry

The government wants to lease offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico – but the oil industry wants it for its own needs.

Gulf Coast

Port Arthur pollution fight shows how Texas blocks citizen protests

A local activist went before a judge, arguing for lower pollution limits on two new liquified natural gas facilities. The judge sided with him, but the state environmental agency sided with the companies.

Gulf Coast

The nonprofits cleaning up the oil and gas industry’s ‘dirty little secret’

These organizations are tackling the vast problem of orphaned wells.

Gulf Coast

The cost to capture carbon? More water and electricity

Cleco wants to capture its climate emissions, raising concerns about impacts on the state’s water supplies.

Gulf Coast

Abandoned 'dry hole' oil wells are polluting Texas farms, ranches and groundwater. The state won’t fix them.

Wildcatters drilled thousands of wells looking for oil and abandoned the dry holes. Some are spewing contaminated water.

Gulf Coast

Losing ground: How one New Orleans community is sinking

While land is subsiding throughout the city, industry water use has exacerbated the problem in one predominantly Black and Vietnamese area.

Gulf Coast

What hinders Louisiana’s shift toward renewable energy? Voters say their congressional leaders

Despite generally liking renewable energy, the majority of Louisiana voters oppose efforts to shift the state away from oil and gas.

Gulf Coast

Industrial water use threatens Louisiana capital’s drinking water

Unchecked water use by companies like Exxon risks saltwater intrusion and undrinkable tap water.

Gulf Coast

Louisiana legislator pushes bills benefiting the oil and gas industry — and her husband

Internal emails show Louisiana state senator Sharon Hewitt worked on a bill with a company that had financial ties to her spouse.