08-E Texas Clean Air Cities Coalition (2)

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What impact would TXU's proposed 20 percent reduction have on C02 emissions and particulate matter ("PM") emissions? None.. Carbon dioxide is not included in TXU's proposed 20 percent reductions. The new plants will add more than 100 million tons of C02 to the atmosphere every year, more than the entire annual C02 emissions of 29 states and most nations.6 As far as we can tell, TXU also has not included PM emissions in its announcements of proposed reductions. Will the TCACC's efforts binder TXU from pursuing its 20 percent reduction? Not unless TXU's only reason for the 20 percent reduction is to expedite its addition of eleven new coal plants. All of the steps TXU is proposing to take to reduce its emissions could be taken today - with no long-term loss in power generation - whether the new plants are built or not. In fact, these reductions will be required by federal regulation within the next several years. What impact would the new plants have on the ozone situation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area? This is one of the questions we want to be sure is thoroughly explored as the Commission considers the permit applications. The consulting firm Environ recently completed a study that examined possible impacts of the new plants plus TXU's proposed 20 percent reductions on DFW air quality. (For purposes of the study, TXU provided information about proposed locations for the reductions). The study found that ozone levels averaged across the days of certain modeled episodes would be lower, but that ozone levels on some days when the winds are blowing out of the south and southeast would be higher. The federal standards for ozone level attainment are based on daily measurements on the high ozone days, not on averages. We believe additional modeling is necessary to understand fully the likely effects of the plants on the DFW area's air. An increase of even one part per billion in the DFW area could lead to more ozone action days in the region and make it harder for the region to reach attainment status. If DFW can't reach attainment status by its 2010 deadline, it could be facing restrictions on construction, automobile use, and new businesses in the area. Reducing new emissions from power plants is a much easier way of reducing ozone levels than the measures DFW would be forced to take. 6 Current state and international carbon dioxide emissions data from U.S. Energy Information Administration, available at http://www.eia.doe.gov I enviwnment.html. 5 ... .-.......-............---..-....-....-r--..-...........-,.----....