Angry parents from across Texas are urging the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to reject a request by Valero Energy and other energy companies for a tax exemption that could cost schools and cities $135 million in refunds.  More »

Nebraska lawmakers will face one of the most unusual legislative sessions in recent history when they return to Lincoln on Tuesday to address pipeline issues: Unlike every other special session in at least 10 years, there’s no firm proposals from the governor and no consensus about what — if anything — needs to be done.  More »

Environmental and health groups pushed the Environmental Protection Agency to move forward with a rule expected later this year to tighten vehicle tailpipe standards for smog-forming emissions. The groups claim the proposal would add less than 1 cent to the per-gallon price of gasoline.  More »

By Jeannie Kever, Houston Chronicle Like a lot of people growing up in Baytown and the other blue-collar towns east of Houston, Wade Williams never thought about college. Why would he? For an earlier generation, the refineries and petrochemical plants along the Houston Ship Channel had provided anyone with a high school diploma – sometimes not [...]  More »

Valero’s shares were up in a rising market, but should have jumped more if Reliance Industries of India is set to make a bid for the company, one expert said.  More »

Some of the area’s refining cities are touted as inexpensive places to retire in a new book.  More »

Net income increased to $7 billion from $3.5 billion a year earlier thanks to higher oil prices, although overall production fell 2 percent.  More »

Net income dropped, but analysts and investors have their eyes on ConocoPhillips’ upcoming refining/E&P split.  More »

An energy and manufacturing conglomerate based in India is set to make a bid for San Antonio refiner Valero Energy Corp., a British newspaper reported Wednesday.  More »

The Houston company had third-quarter net income of $2.6 billion compared to $3.1 billion a year ago. Including one-time charges and gains the numbers were $3.5 billion this year and $2.2 billion a year ago.  More »

TransCanada, seeking approval for its Keystone XL pipeline, highlighted its contributions to the area Houston economy at a weekend event.  More »

A kiddie pool, a flare gun from Walmart and bypassed emissions controls were all part of normal operations at a Lake Charles, La. refinery owned by Houston-based Pelican Refining, according to the EPA. The company has agreed to pay a $12 million fine for environmental regulations and lying to investigators.  More »