Posted on · Amid news that the U.S. Justice Department is suing to block the proposed merger of Halliburton and Baker-Hughes, we revisit our conversation from just last month about the possibility this deal could be squelched. Just a couple months ago, during one of our internal weekly pitch meetings to discuss future Houston Matters topics, one of […]
Posted on · Last year, the Obama Administration floated a proposal to auction off drilling rights to parts of the Atlantic Ocean in 2021, but earlier this month — amid outcry from coastal communities and environmentalists about tourism, safety and wildlife — the administration reversed that position and pulled drilling in the Atlantic off the table. While some […]
Posted on · Last year, the Obama Administration floated a proposal to auction off drilling rights to parts of the Atlantic Ocean in 2021, but earlier this month — amid outcry from coastal communities and environmentalists about tourism, safety and wildlife — the administration reversed that position and pulled drilling in the Atlantic off the table. While some […]
Posted on · Remember how in November 2014, Halliburton and Baker Hughes announced they were merging? The nation’s second and third largest oilfield service companies coming together to the tune of $34.6 billion. Then…nothing. The merger hasn’t happened yet. In the more than 14 months since, crude oil prices have dropped lower than nearly anyone imagined. Both corporations […]
Posted on · Remember how in November 2014, Halliburton and Baker Hughes announced they were merging? The nation’s second and third largest oilfield service companies coming together to the tune of $34.6 billion. Then…nothing. The merger hasn’t happened yet. In the more than 14 months since, crude oil prices have dropped lower than nearly anyone imagined. Both corporations […]
Posted on · It's sort of overlooked here in Greater Houston amid a prominent oil and gas industry, but we do still have coal-fired power plants. And a recent report from the Sierra Club is singling out one such plant in Fort Bend County. Today, we talk with the Sierra Club’s Chrissy Mann. She's the Senior Campaign Representative […]
Posted on · It's sort of overlooked here in Greater Houston amid a prominent oil and gas industry, but we do still have coal-fired power plants. And a recent report from the Sierra Club is singling out one such plant in Fort Bend County. On today’s edition of Houston Matters, we talk with the Sierra Club about why […]
Posted on · A generation ago, in the Houston of the 1980s, energy companies relied almost exclusively on the production and distribution of fossil fuels, and Houston relied almost exclusively on the oil and gas industry to drive the economy. The industry and the communityâs fates were intertwined, for better or worse. Today Houston is more diversified, and […]
Posted on · The state's energy market underwent deregulation in 2002. The idea was to break up monopolies, provide for competition, and, in doing so, drive down consumer costs while ensuring reliability. Now, Texas consumers have hundreds of energy plans to choose from. We discuss how to choose an affordable electricity plan with Loren Steffy, managing director for […]
Posted on · On Monday, Houston METRO Chairman Gilbert Garcia and U.S. Congressman John Culberson held a press conference to announce the beginning of discussions to find regional transportation solutions together. That announcement was surprising to some, as twice now Rep. Culberson — a member of the House Appropriations Committee — inserted a provision into a transportation, housing […]
Posted on · In the current issue of Texas Monthly, Loren Steffy argues Texas is becoming the most friendly state in the country for the virtual currency known as Bitcoin. Earlier this year, the Texas Department of Banking became the first state regulator in the nation to issue guidelines for such currencies, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved […]
Posted on · This week, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced a plan to improve the speed of veteran care. President Obama promised military veterans at the American Legion national convention that he would fulfill his “sacred trust” to them by overhauling a system deemed “unacceptable and troubling” by an inspector general's report highlighting a Phoenix VA […]
Posted on · Back in 1999, state lawmakers voted to deregulate electricity in Texas. The idea: to break up monopolies, provide for competition, and in so doing, drive down consumer costs while ensuring reliability. But is that what has actually happened? Former Houston Chronicle business columnist Loren Steffy explores the complexities of electricity deregulation in Texas in the […]