Air pollution adds to woes of the Texas freeze By Emily Foxhall, Staff writer
Residents huddled under blankets in freezing homes following massive power outages. Vaccination plans were scrambled, delaying efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. And, adding to the injury, Houston-area refineries and plants emitted hundreds of thousands of pounds of pollutants while state air monitors went offline.
Facilities released roughly 700,000 pounds of excess emissions between Feb. 11 and Feb. 18, according to early company estimates reported to the state and analyzed by the Houston Chronicle. The data reinvigorated calls from environmental advocates for better preparation ahead of storms, which climate change is expected to make more likely.
Add air pollution to the list of woes from the deadly Texas freeze
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigators Natalie Izral, Uchechi Nwaiwu and Sam Cortez conduct handheld air monitoring surveys in the Manchester community of Houston.Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
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Manuel Gonzalez and Natalie Izral conduct air monitoring surveys using the TCEQ’s new Strategic Mobile Air Reconnaissance Technology (SMART) van in the Manchester community of Houston, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
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State environmental investigator Sam Cortez conducts handheld air monitoring surveys in the Manchester community of Houston, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
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