In Texas, Climate Creeping onto Agenda

[jpak]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16511614

Texas emits more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than any other state. And if Texas were a country, it would be the seventh-largest carbon dioxide polluter in the world.

Texas's high carbon dioxide output and large energy consumption is primarily a result of large coal-burning power plants and gas-guzzling vehicles, both of which contribute to the pollution problem. But while many Texans think bigger is better, there are signs of an attitude change on energy consumption.

The National Car of Texas

Climate activists say that giant 14-mile-per-gallon Chevy Suburbans — once marketed as the National Car of Texas — are part of the problem.

Texas is the nation's largest energy hog because it has a lot of industry, a lot of people, a lot of air conditioning, a lot of miles and a lot of big cars. Tangi Spencer, a movie caterer in Dallas, explains the big-car phenomenon in Texas quite simply: "Here, it's the bigger the truck, the better off you are; the bigger the gas guzzler you are, the better off you are."

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[kurth]

1. It's part of intelligent design

[Javaman]

2. I work in an office building in downtown austin and I can attest to the fact

that many of the people with whom I work with, drive truly monsterous SUV's and Pickups. Oddly, many of these same people live within walking distance, biking distance or bus distance.

and they still complain about the cost of gas...

:banghead: