Permits Issued For Six Coal-Powered TXU Plants

TXU just moved a step closer to building its proposed 11 new coal-burning power plants. On Wednesday, the Texas Commission on Enviornmental Quality issued draft permits for six of the plants. The permits were issued for three plants in McLennan County, and one plant each in Freestone County, Rusk County, and Titus County. TXU now has draft permits for nine of its proposed eleven plants.

This is not final approval for the plants. The draft permits will be printed in local newspapers, and then the public will have 30 days to comment on the proposed power plants. Then each draft permit will go to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, where each side will get to present its case on whether the proposed plants should be built or not. Even after the decision is made, either side could appeal the decision to a state district court.

I would expect any decision to be taken to court. Perry had put approval of the new plants on a "fast-track" to completion, but opposition to the plants is growing. The mayors of Dallas, Houston, and several other cities have vowed to fight approving the current plans for the plants. Although TXU has said overall pollution would be reduced by 20% after the new plants go online, the mayors along with enviornmentalists, believe this is just not true. They believe the new plants would harm air quality and add to global warming.

Dallas Mayor Laura Miller had this to say about the new permits:

"The fact that this has happened means there will now be a formal process for the utility companies to explain why these plants will not harm our state's air and for those of us who fear it will make our pollution worse to put on our own evidence. The public debate formally starts now, and we will be ready to engage in that important debate."

Perry wanted to get these plants built quickly for his rich buddies, but it is looking like that may not happen. Perry wanted to have everything approved by the Spring of 2007, but more likely is that will just be when the losing side takes it to court.

It's not that we don't need the new power plants. The problem is that they do not want to use the cleanest technology available. TXU wants to pinch pennies and build plants that will poison our air and damage the planet. It is time for TXU to develop a social conscience. It is time for TXU to start caring as much for the people they serve, as they do for their own pocketbook. Build the new plants, but use the cleanest technology available. Abundant power would be useless if our air is too poisonous to breathe.