Travis Bubenik

Energy & Environment Reporter

Travis Bubenik reports on the tangled intersections of energy and the environment in Houston and across Texas. A Houston native and proud Longhorn, he returned to the Bayou City after serving as the Morning Edition Host & Reporter for Marfa Public Radio in Far West Texas. Bubenik was previously the News Director for NPR member station KVNF in rural Western Colorado, where he reported on local environmental and economic issues.

In-Depth

Houston Homeowners Say The Government Owes Them For Flooding Their Homes After Hurricane Harvey

Posted on February 20, 2019 · The cases could have implications for who's liable for the damage from future storms.

News

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo: Citizenship Checks List Could Intimidate Legitimate Voters

Posted on February 1, 2019 · The county is still holding off on asking registered voters on a state-circulated list for proof of citizenship.

News

In Harris County, Thousands Of Registered Voters Mistakenly Flagged For Citizenship Checks

Posted on January 30, 2019 · The state initially said almost 30,000 registered voters in Harris County might not be citizens. That number was inflated by almost 18,000.

News

Harris County “Very Skeptical” About State’s Potential Non-Citizen Voter List

Posted on January 29, 2019 · Harris County is looking into the list before taking action, while neighboring Galveston County has mailed out citizenship check requests.

Energy & Environment

In Houston, A Growing Debate About Flooding And Sand Mining

Posted on January 16, 2019 · Some worry the industry made Hurricane Harvey's destruction worse, a claim the industry disputes.

Energy & Environment

New Push For Eminent Domain Reform Expected At Texas Legislature

Posted on January 14, 2019 · One oil and gas attorney says fights over eminent domain get "bigger and tougher every session."

Energy & Environment

Scientists To Abbott: “Climate Change Is Happening”

Posted on January 8, 2019 · Texas scientists want to brief Governor Greg Abbott on climate change and the impact it's having on the state.

Energy & Environment

New Pipelines To Relieve “Bottleneck” In 2019, But What About After?

Posted on December 31, 2018 · One research firm expects some planned pipelines will be consolidated or delayed.

News

Incoming Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Meets With Emergency Officials

Posted on December 20, 2018 · She says she sees opportunities for streamlining and cutting redundancies.

Energy & Environment

A Multi-Billion Dollar Plan Aims To Protect Houston’s Heavy Industry From Hurricanes

Posted on December 14, 2018 · The government's preferred plan for better protecting the coast will take billions of dollars, political will and community buy-in, ingredients that aren't always easy to come by.

Energy & Environment

State Regulators To Decide On Hearing For South Texas LNG Project

Posted on December 10, 2018 · Activists and city governments in South Texas want to protest a pending air permit for the facility. Regulators will decide Wednesday if they get that chance.

Energy & Environment

Texas Electric Grid Bracing For Another Big Test

Posted on December 5, 2018 · The grid passed last summer's "make it or break it" test. The next one will be harder.

News

Senate Committee Advances Trump’s Pick For Energy Regulatory Seat

Posted on November 27, 2018 · Democrats had criticized Bernard McNamee for his past comments promoting fossil fuels over renewables.

News

Analyst: Trump’s Oil Tweet Is “Noise In The Signal”

Posted on November 13, 2018 · The president has repeatedly complained about what he sees as too-high oil prices.

News

Houston Oil Company To Invest In Zero Emissions Power Plant Technology

Posted on November 12, 2018 · Oil companies already use captured carbon to produce more oil from old fields, a process called "enhanced oil recovery."