Texas Legislature could be going 'green'

Priorities in upcoming session may include renewable energy, environmental jobs

By MATTHEW TRESAUGUE

Global warming might be critical to the future of the planet, but inside the Texas Capitol, it's never been much of a match for taxes and tuition.

The upcoming legislative session, however, could be different, with lawmakers from both parties already talking about renewable energy, energy efficiency and so-called "green jobs" as priorities.

"The climate has changed, atmospherically and politically," said Tom "Smitty" Smith, executive director of the Texas office for Public Citizen, a consumer and environmental advocacy group.

For some time now, Texas lawmakers have been cool to global warming, spurning several measures that dealt directly with the issue. The state is America's power plant and gas pump and thus leads the nation, by far, in emissions of heat-trapping gases that contribute to climate change.

But with a new president who has pledged to cap carbon dioxide emissions and invest in renewable energy, lawmakers and lobbyists expect Washington to move aggressively to combat climate change.

Texas Legislature could be going 'green'

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