October 28, 2024

Oct 28, 2024

In this edition: Another new pipeline crossing Brown County, my election editorial, and finding your fit in the Earth care agenda. Plus, bonus content now available to paid subscribers.

Bahia Pipeline to Cross Brown County

In a single paragraph in the Region Briefs, the Sept. 28 edition of the Brownwood Bulletin reported that “In an earlier meeting Monday, commissioners approved a right-of-way agreement and performance bond for the installation of a private line by Bahia Pipeline in Precinct 2.” I did not attend that Sept. 23 meeting, and did not see or hear any other local media reports on this action by our county commissioners.

According to the Texas Railroad Commission Pipeline New Construction Report, the 30 inch diameter Bahia Pipeline is for “hazardous liquid transmission” (natural gas liquids) and will be 554 miles long, running from Ector County, near Odessa, to Chambers County, near Houston. Capacity is 600,000 barrels per day. The Report lists a construction start date of Nov. 11, 2024. https://www.rrc.texas.gov/media/s2lp0dk2/2024-cy-pipeline-construction_sept16-2024.pdf

The owner is Enterprise Products Partners of Houston. According to their media library, “Enterprise Products Partners and related entities has over 50,000 miles of pipeline in more than 27 states.” Learn more about Enterprise and their Public Awareness outreach here:

https://www.enterpriseproducts.com/safety-sustainability/public-awareness/

The Bahia pipeline will follow a different route than the DeLa Express pipeline I have reported on previously. The route enters roughly from the northwest corner of Brown County, running southeast to the “nose” of the Brown/Comanche/Mills county line. I drove to Abilene recently and saw the pipe stacked by the side of Highway 206 just south of Cross Plains.

No Public Meetings?

Since this pipeline is entirely within Texas, the Texas Railroad Commission is the relevant regulator, not the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Visit their website to research their rules, policies, and procedures:

https://www.rrc.texas.gov/general-counsel/open-records/public-information-act/

If you or someone you know live along the Bahia or DeLa Express pipeline route, here is a good introductory article on eminent domain, condemnation, and the Landowner’s Bill of Rights:

https://trerc.tamu.edu/article/Come-and-Take-It-2350/

Learn more about pipelines in Brown County, or anywhere else in the US, by visiting the National Pipeline Mapping System, courtesy of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which is part of the US Dept. of Transportation:

https://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov/

What have you heard about the Bahia pipeline? Email me: beemonster@verizon.net

My Newsletter Motto, Deconstructed

Despite the local bias stated in my motto, national and state-level politics DO matter, and I hope you will vote, if you haven’t already. Find your sample ballot, polling places, and early voting schedule here: https://www.browncountytx.gov/page/brown.Elections

I confess to being of two minds about this election.

Climate change and care for the biosphere are my top issues, which gives me a clear choice for president, at least between the two top candidates.

But age and experience have also taught me that the new president, whoever he or she turns out to be, will likely only have a limited impact on the issues addressed in this newsletter. The destructive power and influence of the fossil fuel industries, and of the military-industrial-congressional complex, will remain largely unchanged, and unchecked. That is, unless you and I, dear readers, take immediate and decisive action. But what actions could possibly make a difference?

I promise to keep giving you guidance and a range of options to choose from.

We Already Know What Needs To Be Done, (Don’t We?)

The following quote would also apply to the crises in biodiversity, plastic and toxic chemical pollution, and the recently reported global disruptions in the water cycle:

https://turningthetide.watercommission.org/

“Still, how exactly the climate crisis pans out in the coming decades depends largely on what humans decide to do. Scientists generally agree that the greatest obstacle to addressing the climate crisis is political, not technical. The solutions to tackle these problems already exist and can be implemented quickly, if only governments and big corporations prioritized them, researchers say.” Kristoffer Teague Inside Climate News Apr. 7, 2023

Saying “the greatest obstacle to addressing the climate crisis is political” may be a slight oversimplification. Politics encompass power relationships, and an underlying philosophy or belief system with corresponding ethics.

Reversing the rampant destruction of the biosphere will require both individuals and societies to shift their values and their habitual behavior. In upcoming editions I will be introducing you to some alternatives to corporate consumer culture. If you want a preview, you can start your own research into Permaculture and Doughnut Economics.

What If We Get It Right?

I am always on the lookout for kindred spirits who are resisting cynicism and pessimism, and pointing out the pathway forward through confusion and chaos. Marine Biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is one of them. Her new book, What If We Get it Right? ; Visions of Climate Futures, uses a simple graphic that might help you find your path to climate action. When I first saw it, I realized I had followed a similar process in deciding to start this newsletter.

It’s a Venn diagram of three overlapping circles, each representing a question. Answer all three, find where they intersect, and you’ll know what to do:

What are you good at? What work needs doing? What brings you joy?

Watch her recent interview on PBS Newshour here:

https://www.pbs.org/video/what-if-we-get-it-right-1727301182/

She has turned her promotional book tour into a What If We Get It Right? Substack newsletter/podcast. For an in-depth discussion of how to mobilize environmental voters, especially at the local level, check out Episode 2: https://substack.com/home/post/p-149856319?source=queue

Full Archive Now Available to Paid Subscribers

I’ve been gradually adding items to the navigation bar at the top of the newsletter website that Substack provides. With this edition I have added a User’s Guide for the Civic Calendar which is available to all subscribers.

And now, every past edition of the Brownwood Green News is available, to paid subscribers only. These are the ones published prior to my launch on Substack on Sept. 2. I have posted them in reverse chronological order, with the more recent at the top.

This archive includes 16 editions, going back to Feb. 28, 2024. All the articles, and all the links, now at your fingertips, when you upgrade to a paid subscription.

Support Your Green News

Your feedback is always welcomed, especially updates and corrections to keep the Civic Calendar current.

If you like this newsletter, forward it on to someone else, and ask them to subscribe. Send correspondence to beemonster@verizon.net.

Send story leads anytime, or drop by to see me at the Brownwood Art Center, 215 Fisk, weekdays, 2-6 pm. I’ll be the Gallery Guy greeting you at the front desk.

Civic Calendar: Your shortcut to citizenship and political participation

Brownwood City Council 501 Center Ave City Hall

9 am every 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday

https://brownwoodtexas.gov/150/City-Council

City of Brownwood Agenda Center posts agendas for Boards and Commissions including:

City Council, Airport Board, B’wd Municipal Development District Board, Building and Standards Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission and more….

https://www.brownwoodtexas.gov/AgendaCenter

Early City Council 960 Early Blvd. City Hall

6 pm every 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday

https://www.earlytx.net/96/City-Council

Blanket City council 718 Main St. Blanket Lions Club

5:30 pm Third Monday

https://www.facebook.com/cityofblanket/photos

Bangs City Council 109 S. First St. City Hall

6 pm 2^nd and 4^th Monday

https://cityofbangs.org/government/city-council/

Brown County Commissioners 200 S. Broadway County Courthouse

9 am most Mondays confirm on county calendar