thebattalion ● tuesday,
thebatt.com
july 31, 2012
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2012 student media
Kujo missing Kujo was brought to the U.S. after being rescued by Marines in Afghanistan. He has been missing for more than two weeks, and there is a $2,500 reward for whoever finds him. If you have information, please call 254-749-4934.
b-cs news
Shooting occurs on Northgate Officers responded to a report of a disturbance at Shotzi’s bar at 9 p.m. on Sunday, according to the College Station Police Department. The report said a fight broke out within the bar. While responding, officers heard several gunshots fired at the scene. However, upon arrival, the officers reported they could not find anyone that may have been shot nor did they find any suspect who could have fired the shots given the crowd. Nearby streets were closed while officers investigated the area. Officers reported they found bullet shells in a nearby parking lot, confirming previous reports of gun shots, but no arrest have been made. The department requests if anyone has additional information to call 979-764-3600. Aaron Deering, staff writer
Bulbing demand, electric shortage Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Under the current model of electricity supply, Texas could be without electric reserves by 2022.
Larger Texas population uses more energy, sources changing Julie Blanco
Electric utility generation decreases
The Battalion
T
exas’ population is on the rise and so is the potential for energy shortages.
Due to population growth, high temperatures and increasing energy demands, the electric use in Texas is growing faster than the electric generation being built to service. This leads to a decrease in the electric reserves, the gap between the energy supply and demand during the peak hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is the electricity grid operator for the state and forecasts the reserves to be 14.3 percent in the summer of 2013, 9.8 percent in 2014, and drop below zero in 2022. “Our goal is to prevent outages,” media communications
specialist for the Council Robbie Searcy said. “ERCOT is very focused on grid reliability and we’re working very closely with public utility commissions on solutions to these future resource adequacy concerns.” The Council’s electric grid covers 75 percent of Texas and accounts for 85 percent of the electricity usage in the state. It serves most of the major metropolitan regions with the exception of El Paso. Areas not covered include part of the panhandle and some of the southeastern regions of the state.
The population of people living in Texas from 2000 to 2011 increased by almost five million people, from 20.9 million to 25.7 million. From 2000 to 2010, total energy supply increased from 378 billion kilowatt hours to 412 kilowatt hours; however, electricity utility generation decreased from 297 billion kilowatt hours to 95 kilowatt hours (red line). The bulk of the difference was met by “Independent Power Producers” (blue line), which are non-public utility providers that generate non-renewable and renewable resources, such as coal, biomass, nuclear, wind and natural gas. 300 250 200 150 100
See Energy on page 4
50 0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 SOURCE: U.S. Energy Information Administration
commercial
ESPN College GameDay comes to Aggieland Chandler Smith The Battalion Widely renowned as the face of college football, ESPN’s College GameDay crew will shoot a commercial at Kyle Field Tuesday evening and all Aggies are invited to partake in the event. The commercial shoot — featuring familiar faces to college football fans including football analysts Kirk Herbstreet, Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard and Tom Rinaldi — will attempt to capture the essence of Texas A&M University and the show itself. The
commercial will air throughout the 2012 college football season on ESPN networks. Prior to the shooting of the commercial, fans — including minors with adult accompaniment — will be permitted to enter the stadium at 7 p.m. through Gate 9. Parking should be free at lots 61 and 62 starting at 5 p.m. for fans’ convenience. ESPN is expected to wrap up its filming session at roughly 1 a.m. The first 2,000 fans to arrive will receive free T-shirts commemorating the event. This chance for added University publicity continues a string of highly publicized events involving Texas A&M including the SEC in-
duction, athletic director Eric Hyman’s induction, and A&M football’s uniform unveiling. “This is an incredible opportunity to welcome the crew of ESPN to Aggieland and represent Texas A&M and the SEC in the GameDay commercial,” Jason Cook, University vice president for marketing and communications, said in a statement. This particular Gameday commercial is unique as ESPN decided upon the location through a May online voting contest. A&M would edge Nebraska 225,803 to 222,972 and claim the opportunity to bring the famous show to campus.
Senior Yell Leader Nelson Ingram said he wasn’t surprised Aggies rose to the challenge. Students also expressed their excitement. Tyler Campbell, junior biomedical engineering major, said GameDay should finally give the University some positive publicity as it moves to a new conference. “It’s been a really long time since [GameDay] has been here,” Campbell said. “A&M has been portrayed pretty negatively throughout its transition to the SEC. I hope people realize that we’re still the Aggies and we’re still class-act students and we’ll get behind the school in our first season in the SEC.”
campus
elections
University construction projects to end this year
Voters head to polls for runoffs
Aaron Deering The Battalion As Texas A&M University continues to reach the goals set by Vision 2020, it has made changes spanning all areas of college life — from moving athletics to the Southeastern Conference or purchasing a law school, the University, and campus, have changed. There have been new constructions sites for the liberal arts building and the Northside dorms, along with renovations to the Player Development Center, a training facility for the football team, Joe Routt Boulevard and Corps Dorm 8. The Arts and Humanities building broke ground almost a year and half
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ago, and the building should be finished by early fall and departments can begin moving in by November. This building will be the first on campus dedicated specifically to the arts and humanities. It will include recording studios, costume and rehearsal rooms and an outdoor courtyard with electrical access for actors to run lines, musicians to perform and students to gather. The demolition of Northside residence halls, Moore, Crocker and McInnis Hall began summer 2011. The schedule is to have an 85-week construction process that will end by July 2013, allowing residents to move in See Construction on page 4
Robby Smith The Battalion Republicans and Democrats flock to polls today once again to cast their votes in runoffs to resolve undecided elections from the May primary. The next Brazos County district attorney is set to be practically decided in a Republican race between Jarvis Parsons and David Hilburn. Parsons, a prosecutor with the DA’s office, scored 48 percent of the vote in May. Hilburn, a defense attorney and former prosecutor, finished with 22 percent in the original four-person race. The Republican winner July will replace the current district attorney who is retiring, Bill Turner, as no Democrat is running. Additionally, a Republican
nominee to represent the rural Texas State House District 12 will be chosen. This newly created district includes portions of Brazos and McLennan counties and all of Robertson, Falls and Limestone counties. In a close five-person race in May, Calvert lawyer and rancher Tucker Anderson earned 29.5 percent, with Brazos County rancher Kyle Kacal coming in second with 24 percent. The winner will face Democrat Robert Stem of Waco in November. Republican statewide candidates include: U.S. Senate, David Dewhurst vs. Ted Cruz; Railroad Commissioner, Christi Craddick vs. Warren Chisum; Railroad Commissioner — Unexpired, Barry
For more info Go to brazosvotes. org to find polling place by precinct. If a voter voted in the May primary, they must vote in the same party’s runoff. If a voter did not vote in May, they may vote in either party’s runoff .
See Voting on page 3
7/30/12 11:21 PM