Travis Bubenik

Energy/Environment Reporter & Afternoon News Anchor

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.

Energy & Environment

Natural Gas Flaring Significantly Underestimated In Texas, Study Suggests

Posted on July 19, 2019 · The study is the latest evidence of a discrepancy between state data and federal government satellite imagery.

Energy & Environment

Report Says Texas Could See More Frequent “Extreme Heat” In Decades Ahead

Posted on July 17, 2019 · The findings suggest a "huge challenge" for Texas, says one of the report's authors.

Energy & Environment

EPA Needs To Improve Outreach To Vulnerable Communities During Texas Disasters, Watchdog Office Says

Posted on July 16, 2019 · An internal report finds the agency didn't do enough to reach out to Vietnamese and Spanish-speaking communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

News

With Barry Approaching Louisiana, Texas Gears Up To Help

Posted on July 12, 2019 · The "Cajun Navy" helped rescue thousands after Hurricane Harvey. Some Texas volunteers are prepared to return the favor.

Energy & Environment

“Sunny Day” Flooding To Increasingly Threaten Texas Coast

Posted on July 10, 2019 · Rising sea levels are expected to cause more coastal flooding from high tides in the decades ahead, in Texas and across the country.

In-Depth

Houston Weather Forecasters Exploring Ways To Improve Heat Warnings

Posted on July 8, 2019 · Even in a city that has a long love affair with air conditioning, heat kills.

Energy & Environment

House Dems Accuse EPA Of Withholding Documents In Harvey Probe

Posted on June 27, 2019 · A House science committee is looking into why a NASA plane that could've tracked pollution after Harvey wasn't used.

Energy & Environment

Harris County Continues To Pressure Industry Polluters

Posted on June 27, 2019 · The county is planning a federal lawsuit against Valero's Houston refinery.

Energy & Environment

West Texas Boom Softens Oil Market Impacts Of Iran Tensions, Analysts Say

Posted on June 24, 2019 · There's less concern about supply disruptions with so much Permian oil available, but experts caution markets could be underestimating geopolitical risks.

In-Depth

“Carbon Neutral Oil” Is Promising, But Far From Guaranteed

Posted on June 20, 2019 · Some experts say sequestered CO2, even if it's used for oil production, can help the planet in the short-term. But critics say it prolongs the use of fossil fuels.

Energy & Environment

Pipeline Protesters Could Face 20 Years In Prison Under Trump Administration Proposal

Posted on June 4, 2019 · The plan would stiffen penalties for disrupting oil and gas pipelines.

News

Battleship Texas To Leave San Jacinto Battleground Berth

Posted on May 30, 2019 · State lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk that would let a non-profit take over preserving the historic ship.

Energy & Environment

Report: Permian Basin Oil Producers Are Releasing High Amounts of Harmful Emissions

Posted on May 9, 2019 · A report by the Environmental Integrity Project concluded sulfur dioxide is mainly being released when oil and gas companies use flares to burn off excess natural gas.

Arts & Culture

Weddings Are Helping Save Historic Texas Dance Halls

Posted on May 9, 2019 · "It’s a matter of what makes the best sense at the time, and being open to the possibilities of change," one preservationist says.

Energy & Environment

Houston Group Says Coastal “Carbon Marketplace” Could Help Fight Climate Change

Posted on April 8, 2019 · The Texas Coastal Exchange seeks to connect companies or individuals with marshland owners to "offset" carbon emissions.