08-E Texas Clean Air Cities Coalition (2)

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Are you against coal altogether? No. Coal is plentiful and is going to be a part of meeting our energy needs. In fact, we encourage our state to become a leader in IGCC, which uses coal as the fuel source but results in significantly lower emissions. For any traditional non-gasification coal plants that are built now, we want to make sure that the emissions profiles in the permits are reasonable, that the plants use the cleanest technology available, and that they don't unnecessarily pollute the air. We also question whether building sixteen traditional coal-fired plants at once is the right solution for a state that already has three regions out of compliance with federal ozone standards, already leads the nation in mercury emissions, and already leads the nation in greenhouse gas emissions. Don't the power companies know best what is economically feasible for power generation in Texas? The power companies certainly understand the economics of power generation and sale. As profit-making companies who are responsible to their shareholders, that's their job. But the cities also have "shareholders" to whom we are responsible: Texas citizens who breathe the air, and who would pay the economic, environmental, and health costs of the power companies' emissions. Not every power company has the same view as TXU. For example, Wayne Leonard, CEO of Entergy, told the Wall Street Journal that he believed it was "unacceptable" for power companies to build lots of new plants without regard to the effects of carbon dioxide emissions, and that unless new evidence emerges, "you stop what you're doing because you're putting all mankind at risk.,,9 Aren't the new plants going to create jobs and bring economic benefits to the communities where they are to be built? The new units would likely bring additional jobs and enhance the tax base of the local communities. But clean plants bring just as many jobs and economic benefits as dirty ones. And cleaner plants would have the added benefit of improving air quality and the health of citizens locally and across the state. Is intervention in the permit proceedings the best solution? All decisions about the permitting of these plants will be made by the TCEQ. The only way to ensure that our concerns are considered by the TCEQ is to become a party to the proceedings through intervention. Intervening in the state permitting process means 9 Rebecca Smith, "As Emissions Restrictions Loom, TXll Bets Big on C..oal," WALL S'IREET JOURNAL, July 25, 2006. 8 .. -----..".---'--------I-.."-'-.,.-~..