Meter Reading: Drones Watch Over Texas Rivers and Wildlife, Old Power Plants Back Online For Summer, and More

Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

An Israeli soldier launches the Skylark drone during a drill on January 16, 2012 near Bat Shlomo, Israel

As summer nears, old plants go back on grid – “With the official start of summer just a few days away, electricity planners in Texas are preparing for its full blaze by bringing some older power plants back online to meet the increased demand for air conditioning and to help avoid last summer’s threat of power blackouts.” — Fuel Fix

Energy Issues Crop Up With Farm Bill – “Senators in both parties are trying to use the farm bill to go after EPA regulations and permits as a potential last-ditch effort to affect agency policy before the election.” — Politico

High above Texas’ rivers, drones track environmental data – “About as far as one can get from the mountains of Pakistan, on a small ranch amid old farm equipment and rustic silos 10 miles southeast of San Marcos, a crew of researchers from Texas State University has been routinely launching an unmanned drone. This drone has no missiles aboard. Its mission is not to track terrorists, but rivers and wildlife.” — Austin American-Statesman