A Texas Mess Over Coal
Proposed plants have stirred a clean-air uproar
Meanwhile, national green group Environmental Defense is suing the commission-whose members are appointed by the governor-in state court for failing to enforce its own regulations "by not requiring applicants to look at cumulative impact on air quality," says Environmental Defense lawyer Amy Hardberger. Dallas Mayor Miller says adding 16 new plants to the existing 18 will push air quality in parts of the state over federal limits of the Clean Air Act and violate state laws as well. If that happens, many areas could lose "highway money from the feds ... and block grant money for our inner-city neighborhoods," says Miller. "We're in enormous trouble." Miller's city has already lost federal funding because of pollution.
Most of the anger has been directed at Texas's largest energy provider, Dallas-based TXU, which plans to build 11 of the new coal-burning units. The company denies it was motivated by fear of impending regulations. "If demand was not there, we wouldn't be building these power plants," says spokesperson Kimberly Morgan. "Our customers in Texas enjoy their air conditioning, enjoy their big homes." TXU says coal-gasification technology is still too unreliable for a massive investment. TXU is pledging that 100 percent of the regulated pollutants emitted by new plants will be offset by technology upgrades in older facilities. The company also promises to reduce pollutants-but not greenhouse gases-across the older fleet by 20 percent below 2005 levels. All in all, a $2.5 billion investment. Critics say the plan is short on details and promise all-out war. Privately, though, some are conceding it's doubtful they'll be able to stop all, or any, of the proposed plants. Still, with showdowns looming, locals are staging candlelight vigils and protests; some pledged a hunger strike. "When Texans feel like they're being taken advantage of, they stand up and fight," says Tom "Smitty" Smith of the Texas chapter of Public Citizen. It's a Texas-size brawl, and one that's being watched elsewhere. Because it may not be long before other states are feeling, well, messed with.
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