Climate Change /tags/climate-change Climate Change en-US Copyright KUT News 2025 Mon, 24 Mar 2025 14:49:34 GMT Why hailstorms in Texas are getting more destructive /energy-environment/2025-03-24/austin-texas-hail-damage-storms-weather Hailstorms seem to be happening more frequently and the hail appears to be getting bigger. But the reasons for this might not be as obvious as you think. Mon, 24 Mar 2025 14:49:34 GMT /energy-environment/2025-03-24/austin-texas-hail-damage-storms-weather Mose Buchele Austin has had 5 high-risk wildfire days this month alone. Why are there so many red flag warnings? /energy-environment/2025-03-19/austin-tx-high-risk-wildfire-red-flag-warnings The National Weather Service says weather doesn't usually cause wildfires; it's dry and windy conditions that can cause a fire to quickly spread. Wed, 19 Mar 2025 20:41:47 GMT /energy-environment/2025-03-19/austin-tx-high-risk-wildfire-red-flag-warnings Luz Moreno-Lozano Austin Energy customers will see a $2 drop on bills starting Jan. 1 /energy-environment/2024-12-31/austin-energy-customers-will-see-a-2-drop-on-bills-starting-jan-1 After a rocky couple years, Texas' volatile energy market has cooled. Now, the public utility is lowering a charge it passes down to customers. Tue, 31 Dec 2024 11:01:00 GMT /energy-environment/2024-12-31/austin-energy-customers-will-see-a-2-drop-on-bills-starting-jan-1 Andrew Weber Austin power-generation plan, with a new gas plant, heads to City Council /energy-environment/2024-12-10/austin-energy-tx-utility-electricity-plan-natural-gas-power-plant-peaker-city-council Austin Energy says its plan balances affordability with the city's climate commitments. Some environmentalists and council members strongly disagree. Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:01:00 GMT /energy-environment/2024-12-10/austin-energy-tx-utility-electricity-plan-natural-gas-power-plant-peaker-city-council Mose Buchele Where do Austin's mayoral candidates stand on transportation issues? /transportation/2024-10-14/austin-tx-mayoral-election-2024-transportation-project-connect-i-35-airport-commute Five candidates on five topics: Project Connect, I-35, the airport, reducing single-occupancy vehicles and converting car lanes to space for pedestrians and cyclists. Mon, 14 Oct 2024 10:01:00 GMT /transportation/2024-10-14/austin-tx-mayoral-election-2024-transportation-project-connect-i-35-airport-commute Nathan Bernier This fall's monarch butterfly migration through Texas doesn't look promising /energy-environment/2024-10-07/monarch-butterfly-fall-migration-through-texas Regardless of how the butterflies fare this year, the long-term prospects for the migration seem to be dimming. Habitat loss, insecticide use and extreme weather all pose deadly threats to the species. Mon, 07 Oct 2024 10:01:00 GMT /energy-environment/2024-10-07/monarch-butterfly-fall-migration-through-texas Mose Buchele Austin apartments must offer compost collection starting Oct. 1, but many landlords don't know /housing/2024-09-27/austin-apartments-must-offer-compost-collection-starting-oct-1-but-many-landlords-dont-know If you’re looking forward to sorting through your food scraps next week, you might have to wait a little longer. While the requirement technically goes into effect Tuesday, many apartment buildings will be slow to adopt the change, if at all. Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:01:00 GMT /housing/2024-09-27/austin-apartments-must-offer-compost-collection-starting-oct-1-but-many-landlords-dont-know Katy McAfee Austin said a report on water utility leaks would be final months ago. It's still not public. /energy-environment/2024-09-18/austin-water-utility-leaks-report-pipes-conservation-drought Austin Water hired consultants to look at how the city combats water loss and to offer new solutions. Meanwhile, the amount of water it loses keeps going up. Wed, 18 Sep 2024 19:17:38 GMT /energy-environment/2024-09-18/austin-water-utility-leaks-report-pipes-conservation-drought Mose Buchele A 'heat dome' is back over Texas. Here's what that means (and why it's the worst). /energy-environment/2024-06-10/a-heat-dome-is-back-over-texas-heres-what-that-means-and-why-its-the-worst It's hot. It's going to get hotter. Prepare yourselves. The heat dome could be headed this way. Mon, 10 Jun 2024 10:01:00 GMT /energy-environment/2024-06-10/a-heat-dome-is-back-over-texas-heres-what-that-means-and-why-its-the-worst Andrew Weber Austin adopts new zoning rules for electric vehicle charging stations /energy-environment/2024-05-20/austin-electric-vehicle-ev-charging-station-zoning-vote Council Member Alison Alter noted that the charging stations are probably not for the average person, but would serve “ride-shares, fleets, other folks who are really trying to transition their vehicles to EVs to help with our environment.� Mon, 20 May 2024 16:09:16 GMT /energy-environment/2024-05-20/austin-electric-vehicle-ev-charging-station-zoning-vote Jo Clifton