January 25, 2011 by Citizen Carol
At yesterday’s board meeting, the Pedernales Electric Cooperative voted to review a recently passed bylaw that could disqualify one of its members from serving on the board. Specifically, if the board applies this bylaw retroactively, it could disqualify Chris Perry from continuing his position on the board.
Coop attorneys have been questioning Perry about his energy consulting business, Windhorse Energy LLC in Dripping Springs. According to documents filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in March 2009, Perry applied with the commission for his business to engage in wholesale sales of electricity and other services. Perry said in the documents that Windhorse Energy would be a “power marketer” and that it did not generate or distribute electricity. In addition, Perry wrote to the federal commission earlier this month to cancel his registration, stating Windhorse Energy has not conducted any business and had no active contracts for sales.
The bylaw in question prevents a director from working for a wholesale power company for at least three years prior to serving on the board. That bylaw, along with a number of other reforms in co-op governance procedures, was approved in November by Perry and the rest of the board . Perry was elected six months earlier.
The board voted 3-2 not to begin disqualification proceedings against Perry and to initiate a review of the new bylaw. Perry abstained, however he did argue that when he was elected to the board, the bylaw wasn’t on the books, and that it was unfair to apply it retroactively.
Perry, the former assistant energy secretary for the State of New Mexico, has emerged as one of the board’s leading voices for renewable energy. And he would have been unable to sell power in Texas anyway since he did not register with the Public Utility Commission.
The board will have to resolve this issue, but we hope they do so in a fair and equitable way. Nevertheless, we have to say kudos to Perry and other members of the board for disclosing any potential conflicts of interest. This is something that would have been unlikely in the closed-off “old days” of Pedernales.
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged Chris Perry, Energy, pedernales electric cooperative, Texas |
January 25, 2011 by Citizen Carol
On Wednesday, January 26th, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will consider the air quality permit application for the Las Brisas Energy Center, a planned petroleum coke-fired power plant that just last month, two administrative law judges said does not meet emission standards.
Public Citizen, the SEED Coalition and Sierra Club have all argued that the 1,200-megawatt petroleum coke plant proposed near Corpus Christi should be held to the same air-quality standards as traditional coal plants. The State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) administrative law judges must have agreed, twice recommending denial of this permit because of major flaws in the permit application.
The three-member TCEQ commission will be on thin legal ice if it approves the application tomorrow considering the ALS’s actions to date. Not to mention that the Texas agency seems to be locked in a death match with the EPA over the regulation of greenhouse gasses. Nevertheless, were I a betting woman, I wouldn’t bet on them denying the permit. What do you think?
[polldaddy poll=4444923]
The TCEQ meeting begins 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the agency’s headquarters near Interstate 35 and Parmer Lane. Click here for the agenda.
UPDATE:
We have learned that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has urged the TCEQ to deny the air quality permit to Las Brisas Energy Center petroleum coke-fired power plant in Corpus Christi on grounds that the project has not demonstrated it can comply fully with the Clean Air Act.
EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Lawrence Starfield sent a letter yesterday stating, “We continue to have strong concerns about the public health and environmental impacts of this project based on our review . . . Neither EPA nor the public have had the opportunity to exercise their rights under the (Clean Air Act) to review the (Las Brisas’) demonstrations of compliance.”
Wonder if that changes the odds?
Yet another UPDATE!
Well, if that had been a real bet instead of just a poll then everyone who participated right up to the unbelievable decision would have won. Of course, the odds that the Commission would have denied the permit were astronomical number : 1 .
So the TCEQ approved the Las Brisas Energy Center’s air permit, their lawyer said he was dismayed that anyone would say anything bad about TCEQ doing their job. Go figure. That makes 3,032 for industry, 0 for the citizens of Texas.
Posted in Air Quality, Coal, Global Warming, TCEQ | Tagged Coal, Corpus Christi Texas, pet-coke, Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
January 25, 2011 by Editor
Keynote’s promotion of coal leans heavily on unrealistic view of the Texas energy market
In a forum held last Thursday the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) unveiled a report that attempts to sway the debate about Texas energy policy off its current trajectory – namely ideas put forward by high-profile Republicans officials like Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Senator Troy Fraser to help transition the state’s electric supply away from coal and towards natural gas.
Unfortunately, the report wasn’t precisely accurate in its representation of the facts. Here’s perhaps the most important chart in the entire TPPF report (entitled Texas Energy and the Energy of Texas co-authored by Dr. Steven Hayward who was the forum’s keynote speaker) with a couple modifications to try and make it a little more accurate:
As you will note from my (clearly marked) changes, TPPF was not presenting the actual cost of electricity from different fuel sources, but the cost of the fuels themselves. That makes the chart inaccurate since the cost of electricity also depends on things like the cost of building a power plant. Of course that’s a minor expenditure of only several billion dollars in the case of most coal and nuclear plants and hundreds of millions of dollars for natural gas plants.
The TPPF chart was also misleading in three important ways, and one can only really conclude that it was intentionally so. Continue Reading »
Posted in Coal, Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear, Renewables, solar, Texas Legislature | Tagged Coal, dewhurst, fraser, natural gas, Texas, texas public policy foundation |
The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the Packers and the Steelers as it brings you this week’s roundup.
WhosPlayin helped organize a cleanup for an historic African American cemetery dating back to about 1845 that had been the target of litterbugs and illegal dumpers. Respect for the dead, and respect for the land are still values that people from left and right can agree on. Continue Reading »
Posted in News Roundup | Tagged Texas, Texas News Roundup, texas progressive alliance |
January 24, 2011 by Citizen Carol
After Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst‘s remarks, made during his session-opening luncheon just a week ago, about his plans to push for “regulatory and fiscal incentives” to phase out the heavy-polluting coal plants that were built back to the 1970s and replace them with natural gas plants, the Lt. Governor is now back pedalling saying he’s NOT pushing for fast shutdown of Texas’ aging or inefficient coal-fired power plants. Instead, he wants to gradually increasing the use of cleaner-burning, Texas natural gas through market-based incentives.
Dewhurst backed off his earlier stance after the Dallas Morning News suggested the plan would mean lights out for Texas, since those old plants account for some 8,300 megawatts.
Coal vs gas could be yet another controversy as the 2011 session heats up. There’s pressure from the EPA and elsewhere for Texas to lower its pollution levels, and the feds show little sign of backing away from their efforts to regulated greenhouse gas emissions.
One thing is obvious, Dewhurst doesn’t want to caught in crossfire of the coal vs. gas battle. Instead, he is falling back on standard industry language, meant to placate everyone. “In order to meet our current energy demands and fuel our economy, Texas will continue to rely on the use of coal, wind, nuclear and solar power, in addition to natural gas, as part of our diversified energy portfolio.”
Oh for the days when occasionally a politician would take a position – right or wrong, popular or unpopular – and stand by it.
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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.
Posted in Air Quality, Coal, Global Warming, natural gas | Tagged Coal, Dallas Morning News, david dewhurst, Texas, United States Environmental Protection Agency |
January 23, 2011 by Citizen Carol
Brazos Wind Farm in the plains of West Texas - by Wikipedia
The Public Utility Commission passed a scaled-back version of a controversial power line project through the Hill Country to bring West Texas wind energy to the urban centers on Thursday, January 20th. The commission was under a Monday deadline to act on the project.
The three-member panel spent much of that morning tweaking the routes of the lines and towers that will be built by the Lower Colorado River Authority for the project that covers portions of Schleicher, Sutton, Menard, Kimble, Gillespie, Kerr and Kendall counties.
The case had been ongoing for well over a year and was even sent back to the drawing board once due to protests from property owners concerned that the lines would mar scenic Hill Country vistas.
During PUC’s deliberations, Smitherman spoke at length on the need for affordable, reliable power – saying that the state cannot prosper without it. He also pointed out that even though the project is part of a $5 billion package called the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones, the transmission lines would also be available to traditional fossil-fuel generating plant. And, there is also the potential for utility scale solar in parts of West Texas served by the new transmission lines.
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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Renewables | Tagged CREZ, Electric power transmission, lower colorado river authority, Public utilities commission, Texas, Texas Hill Country, west texas |
It’s been a while since a status update has been given on the Keystone XL pipeline project here at Public Citizen so the time has come!
The Keystone pipeline project is Canadian initiated undertaking involving both TransCanada and ConocoPhillips. The pipeline is set out to be about 1380 miles long and the pipe itself is projected to be about 36 inches in diameter. The Keystone pipeline will enter the United States from Alberta, Canada through Montana, cross through South Dakota and Nebraska to send its 700,000 barrels/day supply into stations in Oklahoma and East Texas. In doing so, this means the pipeline would be crossing 554 acres of wetlands and 91 streams that support either recreational or commercial fisheries.
The Keystone pipeline will also run right through the Ogallala Aquifer, meaning potential damage to one of the country’s largest sources of water if a spill should occur. 
And we all know how easy it can be for an oil spill to occur. (see the recent WSJ article on the BP Alaskan pipeline leak)
In fact, TransCanada is supposed to construct the actual pipes to be made out of a thinner material, but the oil will be pumped at a higher pressure than normal, which increases the risks of spills even more. The last thing we need is another BP disaster in the gulf or pipeline leak in Alaska. But suppose you say, “So what, what’s another oil spill?” Well, it just so happens that this pipeline will be transporting some of the dirtiest oil in the world.
This type of oil, known as tar sands oil, produces more global warming pollution than our normal conventional oil, 20% more to be exact. It also makes conventional oil seem pretty darn clean. Tar sands oil is full of toxic and harmful materials not only dangerous to the environment but the health of the communities surrounding the pipelines are endangered as well. Producing this oil for the Keystone XL will essentially result in the emittance of 11 million more tons of carbon dioxide. Continue Reading »
Posted in Global Warming, Tarsands | Tagged Global Warming, Keystone Pipeline, obama, ogallala aquifer, Oil sands, public citizen texas, Texas, transcanada |
January 21, 2011 by Editor
SPECIAL GUEST COLUMN FROM JIM HIGHTOWER
Originally posted at http://www.jimhightower.com/
Thank you, California. And you, too, Florida, Maine, Missouri, and the 32 other states that intend to send a very special gift to Texas – namely, their radioactive waste. Now there’s a gift that truly keeps on giving!
Of course, Texas asked for it. Well, actually, only two Texans. They had the clout to open a private radioactive waste dump in our state. First approved in 2003, the 1,300 acre site, which endangers fresh water aquifers that supply water to thousands of people in West Texas, was originally meant to take waste from just two states. But now – thanks to this pair of insistent Texans – the dump is being opened to 36 more states! Continue Reading »
Posted in Campaign Finance, Energy, Nuclear, Radioactive Waste | Tagged Harold Simmons, Jim Hightower, Rick Perry, Texas |
January 20, 2011 by Citizen Carol
On January 13th, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced the opportunity to request a hearing on an application to renew the operating licenses for the South Texas Project (STP) Units 1 and 2 which will expire on Aug. 20, 2027, and Dec. 15, 2028, respectively.
South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company, submitted the renewal application to the NRC on Oct. 25, 2010. When the agency receives a license renewal application and it is docketed three actions are triggered:
- technical safety reviews
- environmental reviews
- an announcement of an opportunity for a hearing
The deadline for requesting a hearing is 60 days following the publication of a notice in the Federal Register. This means, by March 14, petitions should be filed by anyone whose interest may be affected by the license renewal and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding. Continue Reading »
Posted in Global Warming, Nuclear | Tagged Nuclear Power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, South Texas Nuclear Generating Station, South Texas Project, Texas |
January 20, 2011 by Citizen Carol
In December Texans for Public Justice reported that Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons had contributed $620,000 to Governor Rick Perry. TPJ’s publication Lobby Watch questioned how Perry’s appointees could objectively regulate Simmons’ nuclear ambitions. That question looms larger after Simmons gave Perry another $500,000 this in 2010. Having given him a total of $1,120,000, Simmons now ranks as the governor’s No. 2 individual donor.1
And now, Harold Simmons, is the largest benefactor for the new Railroad Commissioner, David Porter. According to the report filed yesterday with the Texas Ethics Commission, which covered the period from late October until the fundraising moratorium triggered by the 2011 legislative session, Porter’s largest single donation came from Harold Simmons, the owner of Dallas-based Waste Control Specialists, who delivered a check for $25,000 to Porter on Oct. 27. . . .and another check for $25,000 the same day. Simmons also made contributions to Porter in June to the tune of $10,000, according to Ethics Commission reports.
I think the giving levels of Harold Simmons warrant watching, especially given the fact that much of his business is regulated by state agencies, and his predilection for spending money late in the election cycle (such as a gift of half a million dollars to Texans for Lawsuit Reform- a notorious tort reform super-PAC), a trick employed by Karl Rove to escape campaign finance scrutiny until an election is looooong over.
Posted in Campaign Finance, Nuclear, Radioactive Waste | Tagged David Porter, Harold Simmons, radioactive waste, Rick Perry, Texas, Texas Ethics Commission |
January 19, 2011 by Citizen Carol
CPS Energy CEO Doyle Beneby announced that the utility will acquire an additional 50 megawatts of solar power and that the company chosen to build the new plants for it will be required to locate a portion of its business in San Antonio. Currently the negotiations include a leading solar manufacturer to locate a small office in the area and invest in an educational center at one of the solar sites with a larger goal of having a solar company locate a manufacturing plant or perhaps an assembly plant in San Antonio.
San Antonio is trying to do locally, what the State should be doing – luring new renewable industries and jobs to Texas. As CPS and San Antonio take the lead in fulfilling their potential as a clean energy hub, let’s hope the State takes notice and begins to follow suite.
Posted in Energy, green jobs, Renewables, solar | Tagged CPS Energy, Energy, renewable, San Antonio, solar power, sustainable energy, Texas |
January 18, 2011 by Citizen Carol
The United State’s much-touted nuclear renaissance is in jeopardy, but it is not primarily from environmental and safety concerns. The industry is finding it increasingly difficult to make the economic case for building new nuclear plants.
The enormous capital cost of building reactors is just one factor holding back the long-promised nuclear revival. Just as critical is the risk that the already high costs will balloon as companies build new-generation plants that must be able to withstand the impact of a terrorist crashing an airliner into one. Companies are facing difficulties financing their plants due to the long lead times needed for permits and construction before they can begin to recoup capital expenditures. Then there’s the potential for cost overruns, so companies are looking for political and regulatory support to shift financial obligations onto customers and taxpayers to minimize risk in what Moody’s Investor Service Inc. has dubbed a “bet-the-farm” type of project.
That effort to offload financial risk to partners, customers and governments is the hallmark of the 21st-century nuclear industry. Continue Reading »
Posted in Nuclear | Tagged Nuclear, Nuclear Power, Texas, U.S. Energy Information Administration, United State, wall street |
January 16, 2011 by Citizen Carol
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has long been recognized as among the most traffic-congested areas in America, and immediately following the MLK holiday, it will be recognized by the federal government as having some of the most polluted air as well.
The region will become known as a “serious” violator of air-quality standards set by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, a designation that will put it infamously among the worst-offending metro areas in the country.
Five other regions in the country are even worse, labeled either “severe” or “extreme,” with Houston also considered a severe offender.
In order to deal with this designation, the state will need to chart a new compliance plan for the region, something that could govern the kinds of highway projects and other infrastructure that is built in North Texas.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will be required to develop a clean-air plan tailored to the nine-county DFW nonattainment area by July 2012. Much of this is already under way.
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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.
Posted in Air Quality | Tagged air pollution, Air Quality Index, Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, United States Environmental Protection Agency |
January 15, 2011 by Citizen Carol
As an end of the month deadline looms, PUC once again postponed a final decision on the route of a controversial portion of the lines and towers that will carry wind power from West Texas through the Hill Country and on to the state’s more populated regions
At this point it looks like PUC will likely act next week at their Jan. 20 meeting, following a marathon meeting Thursday.
The proposal has drawn fire from hundreds of Hill Country property owners on grounds that the power lines and towers would severely damage the area’s natural beauty and devastate property values.
Tune in after January 20th to find out what is finally decided.
Posted in Energy, Global Warming | Tagged Electric power transmission, hill country, renewable energy, Texas, Texas Hill Country, west texas, wind power |
January 14, 2011 by Citizen Carol
Luminant, operator of the two-unit Comanche Peak nuclear power plant 45 miles southwest of Fort Worth, shut down the facility’s Unit 1 reactor about 7 p.m. Thursday and they were still working earlier today to correct the problem that caused the shutdown. No word yet as to when the unit would be back online.
Luminant says they were investigating the cause of this issue, but decided to to take the unit offline to ensure the continued safety of plant employees and plant reliability due to a problem related to an under-voltage relay, which ensures the appropriate amount of voltage is provided to a pump motor.
This outage comes on the heels of STP’s almost month long shutdown back in November of 2010. See our earlier blog post about that outage.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Comanche Peak’s Unit 1 was reported back on on Saturday, January 15th. We were unable to find out what time the nuclear reactor was brought back on line that day, but know that the unit was off line for more than 24 hours.
Posted in Nuclear | Tagged Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Luminant, Texas |
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