Austin Has A Dirty Secret

by: Chris Searles

Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 01:29 PM CST

"Austin has a dirty secret" is focused on:

1) Drawing attention to the fact that Austin's coal plant is a clunker (rated#7 worst polluting industrial complex in TX by the TCEQ...)

2) Drawing attention to the fact that keeping the City reliant on said clunker = numerous, high stakes financial risks and negative human impacts

3) Offering quality information about available clean alternatives for Austin rate payers that save money.

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Visit the group to learn more -- http://tinyurl.com/austin-face...

Texas Families Deserve Clean Air

by: Texas Sierra Club

Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 01:09 PM CST

There are times in history when regular people have paused in what they're doing to fight for a cause bigger than themselves. We've walked out of classes when necessary. We’ve taken a personal day or called in sick in order to be at the place where a major change is being made. No matter how big the challenge, Texans always rise to the occasion. 

This Tuesday, February 2, we have another historical opportunity to make change.  

The Environmental Protection Agency is hosting an important public hearing on ozone air quality standards, and we have a real opportunity to clean up our air and set good policy that will last decades.

The Sierra Club and the Clean Air Texas Coalition encourage you to travel to Houston this Tuesday for this important EPA hearing. Please play your part in creating a desperately-needed change at this pivotal moment in history. Texas families have the right to clean air, and now is the time to stand up and make your voice heard!

If you can't travel to Houston, then please go online and submit your public comment in support of stronger ozone air quality standards.

(more below the fold on the EPA hearing.)

Ozone Hearing Momentum Growing - Help Make History Tuesday in Houston

by: Texas Sierra Club

Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 00:40 PM CST

There are times in recorded history where people have paused in what they're doing. Walked out of classes. Taken a personal day. Called in sick in order to be at the place where a major change is being made. That's how important this coming Tuesday is. If you could take a day's break from what you're doing and profoundly change the world, would you? Would you do that on next Tuesday, February 2?  This coming Tuesday is the day people are converging at the Houston Hobby Hilton for the EPA's hearing on new ozone limits that will seriously help clear up Texas air. 

Sierra Club and the Clean Air Texas coalition are asking you to push away from the keyboard for one day and drive to Houston on next Tuesday, February 2nd to play your part in creating a desperately-needed change at this pivotal moment in history.

On Tuesday, February 2, the EPA is going to hear from Big Coal, the Oil and Gas industry, Chemical companies, and possibly highway construction companies and the auto industry that clean air standards are bad for business.

EPA must also hear from We who believe in change and are ready to make some change.

What EPA also has to hear and see is that a new Ozone Standard of 60 parts per billion will actually be great for the business of better breathing. Great for the business of saving billions of tax dollars spent on health care costs for the many people who suffer from asthma, respiratory illnesses, heart disease and other impacts of dirty emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. We have learned from over 1700 studies that ground level ozone is much more dangerous to breathe than we originally knew. That is why the EPA scientific panel advises this new, more protective ozone limit. The EPA needs to hear from millions of Americans who support cleaner air and the Tuesday hearing in Houston is getting the most build-up of the three hearings being held across the nation. Could you pause what you're doing and make a plan to be there and add your presence to that power?

Air Quality Standards are not only about saving Texan lives. That's their primary importance. At the same time, the new ozone rule is also going to significantly help transform an obsolete and problematic way of doing energy.  EPA needs to hear from us about that, too -- that we support their proposal for tougher limits on ozone because we are ready now for clean energy -- more and more energy efficiency and more renewable power, particularly solar and also wind and geothermal.

The new ozone rule as it is implemented -- along with recently proposed, improved standards for carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, will help to expand the already dynamic clean energy economy in Texas and will help build the green jobs of our future. One of the ways this transformation will work is like this. We must now phase out burning coal for electricity. Coal-fired power plants are the largest ozone polluters in Texas' industrial sector. Energy companies must close the oldest, dirtiest coal plants in order for our counties and State to meet the new safe limit. The coal industry will be forced to revisit budgets for the 12 new coal plants proposed in Texas. They will need to let go of those projects because with the required new scrubbers new coal plants are not economically feasible. One energy producer working on shifting to wind development said, What is Texas? An oil state? Or an energy state? We say Texas is a saavy Energy state full of brilliant and visionary people who, instead of fighting clean air standards, must make this change. An improved ozone standard of 60 parts per billion is an enlightened requirement that will help Texans save dollars spent on health care costs and will help the energy industry do what it needs to do.

Sierra Club, American Lung Association, Health Professionals for Clean Air, Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention (GHASP), Environmental Defense Fund, Public Citizen, Environment Texas, are asking you to please join us! We need you to help make this Big Change happen. Consider breaking out of the usual week's pattern and come to Houston with us. Here's what's planned:

All Day Starting at 9:30 AM EPA Ozone Hearing, Hilton, Hobby Airport, Houston,  Sign up to speak or Register your comments on a card.

10:45 Activists Gather in Grand Ballroom across the hall from the Hearing

11:00 Press Conference. Who's speaking

• Mary Partridge, Chair, American Lung Association USA
• Wendi Hammond Attorney and 2 year old son Jonah, with Kids for Clean Air
• Stuart Abramson, Pediatrician, Health Professionals for Clean Air
• Matthew Tejada, Director, GHASP
• Neil Carman, Clean Air Program Director, Sierra Club
• Alejandro Sarvansky, Environment Texas
• Possibly others, elected officials and 14-year old with asthma invited

12:00 Free Texas BBQ Lunch with Veggie Option. Afternoon is open for you to speak at the hearing or register your comments.

7:00 Sierra Club and Clean Air Coalition Rally and free Dinner in Grand Ballroom across from Hearing

• Senator Rodney Ellis confirmed to speak at Rally!

7:30 Last chance to sign up to speak at Hearing Hearing will run until last person signed-up has had a chance to speak.

Ready to help pay it forward?  Can you break free and come? 

Portland General Electric plans to shut down its coal plant by 2020

by: Mateo

Fri Jan 22, 2010 at 05:01 PM CST

Austin is not alone in preparing for clean and affordable energy.

When good news like this comes across the internet like this, we have to share. From the cloudy northwest:

Portland General Electric Co. would shut down the state's only coal-fired power  plant 20 years earlier than planned under a proposal it hopes to finalize with  state and federal regulators in the coming months.

Based on its analysis of carbon and natural gas prices, however, PGE maintains  that a 2020 shutdown would be the low-cost, least-risk plan for utility  ratepayers and shareholders [emphasis mine]. Under the existing plan, both face the risk of  making the huge investment to control haze causing pollution - which does  nothing to control the plant's carbon emissions -- then seeing the plant close  anyway if global warming legislation or a carbon tax makes its output  prohibitively expensive.

Austin Energy has similar plans to get out of its only coal plant, the Fayette Power Project. No target date is set yet, but the utility's 2020 generation plan would reduce Austin's dependence on it by 20-30%. The next two years will be important as Austin works with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas  (the grid operator for most of Texas) and the Lower Colorado River Authority (co-owner of Fayette) to see what the most practical and fair way out. Learn more about the resource plan and some excellent additional recommendations at www.cleanenergyforaustin.org. You can also learn a lot from AE's website www.austinsmartenergy.com.

Original post found at Texas Vox.

New EPA Ozone Limits -- A Great Way to Start the New Year!

by: Texas Sierra Club

Tue Jan 12, 2010 at 00:44 PM CST

Last week, President Obama’s EPA made an announcement that will spring Texas forward to cleaner air!  I love the idea of being able to run on Lady Bird Lake trail without wheezing on certain days.  And, I love the idea that the number of ozone alert days could go down.  The children I'd like to have someday might not have to stay inside the classroom like kids have to now on Ozone Action Alert days.

Here’s the big news.  The EPA proposed an improvement to the federal clean air standard for ozone to a range of 60 to 70 parts per billion -- This step could signficantly lower ozone pollution across the state!  The EPA will soon ask for public comments from you. The Sierra Club is already taking action to support the new, proposed rule!   After the public comments process, the rule will become finalized by August 31 of this year.

The announcement came January 7 from the EPA in Washington.  Texas is going to be one of the states impacted most because despite our beautiful dream of wide open space and big blue skies on the frontier, both urban and rural Texans are breathing some of the dirtiest smog in the nation.  In anticipation of the EPA’s announcement, the American Lung Association in Texas, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Texas State Legislators including Senator Kirk Watson and Representatives Lon Burnam and Eddie Rodriguez environmental groups and local citizens impacted by air pollution in our state eagerly welcomed the decision at press conferences in Austin (News8 Austin video), Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. 

You Don't Have to be a Doctor to Know 

Why is Obama’s EPA doing this?  The proposed rule revises a much less protective proposal from the Bush Administration.  The Bush EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) went with a less than adequate standard (and little enforcement of that!) despite the obvious damage it would cause to our health and air quality.  The ozone limits announced today meet recommendations from the EPA’s scientific panel based on 1700 scientific studies, many indicating that ozone is a lot worse for our lungs than we previously knew.

At Wednesday’s press conference at the State Capitol, Dr. Don Williams pointed out that “You certainly don’t have to be a doctor to know that brown haze is not good for your lungs.”  Dr. Don compared ozone to lead explaining that we didn’t know how dangerous lead was until we found out through research.  Breathing Ozone can kill.  When we breathe in smog, it burns and damages the respiratory system like a sun burn might burn the skin.  It can lead to further respiratory illnesses like cardio-pulmonary obstructive disorder and heart disease.  According to the American Lung Association, even short term increases in ozone have been found to increase deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory problems.  That’s why this new ozone limit is so important.

After the comment period and finalization of the new standard, Texas’ multi-county, regional Councils of Government and the TCEQ will create and submit State Implementation Plans to the EPA that will identify the sources and ways we’ll reduce emissions. That’s really good news for all of us breathers.

We can look at where ozone comes from.  Ozone comes from nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds emitted by large industrial facilities -- coal plants, cement kilns, refineries, and chemical plants, but also from smaller yet hugely numerous sources like our vehicles in traffic, heavy, off-road construction equipment, gasoline stations, paint shops, and natural gas drilling.

First Step, Halt Proposed New Coal Plants

One of the easiest ways to control NOx emissions is to go after the largest ‘single point sources’.  Because coal plants create almost 35% of all industrial ozone, Texas must reverse the Texas coal rush.  We have to stop building new coal plants and we have to phase out the dirty, existing coal plants.  We have to and we can make a transition to clean power. 

Texas doctors and nurses have been focusing more and more on the coal-fired power plants.  Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is speaking out because they recognize burning coal for electricity is terrible for people’s health.  Along with Dr. Don, PSR spokespersons Dr. Stuart Abamson, a pediatric children’s hospital, asthma & immunology specialist spoke at the Houston press event and pediatrician Dr. Karen Lewis spoke at the Dallas event last week.   

 In Corpus Christi, Dr. Bruce Taylor, pediatrician, anesthesiologist and a member of the local Clean Economy Coalition spoke about the problems presented by Chase Power Development’s plans to build an ironically named ‘Las Brisas’ -- Spanish for ‘the breezes’, coke-powered plant.  (Coke emits NOx and is regulated like coal.) Las Brisas would put out more pollution than the 6 refineries currently operating in Corpus Christi combined including 3,776 TONS annually of ozone-forming, asthma-causing NOx.  Just up the coast, citizens and elected officials are looking closely at the proposed White Stallion coal plant, planned in Matagorda County just south of the Houston-Galveston ‘non-attainment’ area.  Las Brisas and White Stallion would add up with the 9 other proposed coal plant projects in Texas to equal 27,013  TONS per year of additional NOx in our air.  That’s why Sierra Club, Environmental Defense, and local environmental groups and individuals around the state are fighting these new coal plants.  Placing a moratorium on any new coal plant permits and reconsidering all recently permitted coal plants would be one easy way to help meet the new ozone standard. 

DMN to Perry:  Get Over It 

 This week, Governor Rick Perry and the TCEQ continued to fight the Obama Administration’s clean air and climate protection plans while editors at the Dallas Morning News want Perry to get over it.  They want the state to now ‘get started on a serious ozone reduction strategy.’

A reporter at the Austin press conference asked a good question, ‘What will make Texas local and state government clean-up the air?’ 

Good question.  If you ask me, the reason coal plants have been polluting Texas is because the Bush Administration EPA failed to act, and the TCEQ under Governor Perry’s appointees went right along.  We have a new administration now and a new EPA that is willing to enforce the law to protect public health.  What can happen?  For one thing, the EPA has the ultimate say over the State Implementation Plan so EPA can require serious, health-based permitting plans.  If regions around the State don’t reach ‘attainment’ of the clean air standards, they can lose federal highway funds for one thing. 

 Clean Energy Solutions

Texas is now at an energy crossroads.  Businesses are looking for clean energy solutions.  The Texas energy industry can seize this huge opportunity to turn away from coal and create green jobs and wealth by building their part of the new clean energy economy.   We have the smarts in this energy savvy state.   Texas received more money for energy efficiency programs like home weatherization than any other state in the country after New York.  We have the renewable power resources. Texas generates more wind power than any other state in the nation, and we have incredible solar power resource. 

 Sierra Club, other environmental groups, and our partners in the medical community applaud the EPA for taking this step in the right direction.  The only way we’ll get our cities back into attainment of the clean air standards is to stop any new coal plants from being built, and to phase out and shut down some of the oldest and dirtiest coal plants.  We are calling on the EPA to halt the permitting of any new coal plants in the state of Texas and to help TCEQ prioritize which of the dirtiest old coal plants to phase out first. 

State Legislators are ready to take action.  As Senator Kirk Watson said at last week’s announcement, “Our goal…should be to make sure that we all get the air we need to breathe well, have fun, work productively, and keep our region competitive with areas that can offer companies and workers unmistakably clean air.  Non-attainment isn’t something to be afraid of.” 

Challenging the Second Wave of the Texas Coal Rush

by: Texas Sierra Club

Mon Nov 23, 2009 at 01:03 PM CST

What’s all the fuss about?  More and more Texans are realizing that Texas is in the problematic position of having more proposed coal plants than any other state in the nation.  With 12 in various stages of construction or permitting challenges, Michigan, second worst with 4 planned coal plants, leaves Texas in the really big dust.  

Texans are learning that coal plants make people sick.   Medical practitioners have become increasingly involved in opposing Texas coal plants – particularly in Corpus Christi, the site of the proposed Las Brisas pet coke plant;  in Austin, which could become the first municipal utility in the state to reject coal; and in Dallas, which is downwind of the majority of Texas existing coal plants and has been in non-attainment of federal air quality standards. At the EPA last week, Dallas-based pediatrician, Dr. Karen Lewis with Physicians for Social Responsibility said, “Coal plants in Texas emit huge volumes of heavy duty respiratory toxins and we're seeing skyrocketing rates of asthma and respiratory illness in children.” Dr. Lewis addressed mercury pollution which leads to developmental and neurological disorders in children, “Doctors recommend that pregnant women not eat large fish and limit their intake of smaller fish, but can we talk about where the mercury in such otherwise healthy food as fish comes from?  The bottom line is that we shouldn’t be building more coal plants in Texas.”   

There are other reasons to fight coal plants.   Coal plants cost too much.   And, costs are rising as new, more protective clean air standards become law.   The new standards will place many additional regions of Texas in ‘non-attainment’ status jeopardizing federal funds and they will require coal plants to install costly new scrubbers.   Texans don’t need to foot this bill when we live in a state with so much clean energy know-how and wind and solar resource. 

Coal plants also cause global warming and use enormous amounts of water.  This is a serious problem in Texas where we experience extreme drought. 

Fortunately, more people are becoming actively involved.  People are hearing about the second wave of the Texas coal rush in part thanks to Forrest Wilder’s Texas Observer article ‘Coal Star State’ and also thanks to hundreds of Sierrans, our environmental partners and bicycling community friends who came out to Roll Beyond Coal at rallies, bike rides, and hikes in five Texas cities on October 31. Sierra Club’s long time chemist, former state regulator, and clean air warrior, Neil Carman believes that the recently appointed new EPA Administrator at Region VI in Dallas can make a difference in the coal plant fight. 

We got a hopeful sign last week when a company decided that it won’t import PCBs and burn them in Port Arthur.  He thinks the new EPA can also intervene on TCEQ’s habit of permitting big coal polluters. 

Sierra Club will continue challenging coal plants in Texas and we need your help!  Let the EPA know today that you want them to block Texas coal plants and take a serious look at the 17 existing coal plants. 

Benefits of the "Quit Coal by 2014 scenario" --- #5. Lower Health Costs

by: Chris Searles

Fri Oct 30, 2009 at 09:37 AM CDT

Benefits of the "Quit Coal by 2014" scenario --- 3. Less Ozone

by: Chris Searles

Thu Oct 22, 2009 at 09:06 AM CDT

Commissioner Huber explains,

"First, going into nonattainment would subject us to a slew of new rules and regulations that could hang over our heads for up to 20 years after we return to air quality compliance. These regulations would create a lag effect on everything, from higher energy bills for households to creation of new businesses, as well as more expensive transportation projects (that you finance).

Second, "Nonattainment would require us to cede local control of transportation projects to state and federal oversight regulations. Conforming to their regulations would create longer construction times and higher construction costs.

Third, "... our businesses could be subject to much harsher oversight than they currently enjoy... Nonattainment regulations would subject power plants to higher emissions standards, resulting in higher electricity bills. Gasoline might have to be reformulated before it can be used to fuel our vehicles, and your car would be required to pass stringent emissions testing."

Anti-coal demonstration at Austin City Council meeting Thursday

by: citizen.sarah

Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 04:27 PM CDT

Burning coal to create electricity has a high human cost. From childhood asthma to aggravated heart and respiratory problems, living downwind of a coal plant can take years off of your life. If you are a six year old or even a strapping adult with asthma and unlucky enough to live near a coal plant to boot, that is enough to send you to the emergency room on a regular basis. Individuals with heart conditions are in the same boat. And mercury emissions from the coal stacks that power our city find their way into waterways and are known to cause birth defects. A recently updated study by the Clean Air Task Force finds that our Fayette Coal Plant causes an average of fifty deaths each year.

City Council must take these considerations into account when planning our future energy mix. Why should others in the state of Texas die or live with crippling health problems when cleaner alternatives exist?

So come to City Hall at noon on Thursday to show City Council your support for a clean energy plan that would phase out the coal plant as quickly as possible. Wear black in some way, and meet at 11:50 in the lobby so that we can coordinate. Parking at city hall is free on council meeting days. Please RSVP or contact Ryan Rittenhouse at 512-477-1155 with any questions.

Please also spread the word to similarly concerned friends and invite them to the "Austin has a dirty secret" facebook group so that they can be in the loop for future events or demonstrations.

Benefits of Austin's 'No Coal by 2014' Scenario -- 1. Local Jobs

by: Chris Searles

Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 09:36 AM CDT

Replacing Austin's coal plant means installing everything from solar panels to caulk seal. Local jobs will need to be filled, from teenagers to engineers. Millions of dollars will stream into Austin instead of its clunker coal plant -- rated #7th worst polluter in the state by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.