Statement of Tom “Smitty” Smith, Director, Public Citizen’s Texas Office
We are thrilled – but not surprised – that because of a growth spurt in the development of wind energy, Texas has met its renewable energy goal 15 years ahead of schedule. Each time Texas has set a renewable energy goal, the state has achieved it far in advance of the deadline set by the Texas Legislature. That’s because Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) policies are incredibly effective at stimulating new technologies and economic growth.
RPS policies are also remarkably successful at reducing air pollution and global warming gases. This program has resulted in 9 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide and reduces emissions of nitrous oxide, or NOx, by 15,000 tons per year and as such should be heralded as one of the state’s most effective environmental programs. The success of this initiative goes to show the positive outcomes that can be reached when environmentalists and business communities work together.
In 1999, the Texas Legislature created a Renewable Portfolio Standard that required all utilities to get at least 3 percent of their energy or a statewide total of 2,000 megawatts from renewables by 2020. In 2005, that goal was increased to 5,880 megawatts by 2015, with a target of 10,880 megawatts capacity created by 2025, which is the target that has been met. At the time of its implementation, this legislation was the most aggressive in the country. Similar policies have proven successful at creating demand for renewable energy throughout the United States, but nowhere have they been as successful as Texas. In Texas, these policies have resulted in the creation of as many as 83,000 jobs, according to Public Citizen studies.
Texas should adopt the same policies to encourage the growth of non-wind renewable energy such as solar, geothermal, biomass, agricultural methane and landfill gas. Texas has become a leader in wind as a result of carefully crafted policies like the RPS, but there is no reason we can’t do the same and become a leader in non-wind renewable energy as well. The Public Utility Commission and the Texas Legislature have the opportunity to develop other sources of renewable energy and thereby bring economic growth to Texas. This is happening elsewhere, but not in Texas, because we lack the specific incentives for non-wind renewables that other states have jumped to adopt.
The current success would not have been possible without the hard work of environmentalists, large wind producers like the Wind Coalition, the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA), environmental groups, church groups and rural county officials who worked together on what has become one of the state’s largest job creation programs and boon, through increased property taxes, to educational services in rural communities. Our thanks go out to these parties, and we certainly hope that in 10 years, we can applaud the similar success of solar and geothermal energy due to a non-wind RPS.
###
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, Renewables | Tagged Carbon Dioxide, nitrous oxide, non wind rps, Public Citizen, public utility commission, renewable energy, renewable portfolio standard, rps, Texas, Texas Legislature, Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association, TREIA, wind coalition |
Our hearts are with the victims of the West Virginia mining disaster. Reports now indicate that the explosion claimed the lives of 25 workers, making this the worst mining disaster in 25 years. Huffington Post is pulling together a list of places where you can donate to support the victim’s families.
The mine is owned and operated by Massey Energy, who has a terrible record of safety violations. At the mine where the disaster occurred, 57 violations were reported in March alone, including “repeatedly failing to develop and follow a ventilation plan.”
Massey is responsible and should be held accountable for this tragedy, but instead they are “actively contesting millions of dollars of fines for safety violations at its West Virginia coal mine where disaster struck yesterday afternoon.”
###
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 Coal | Tagged donate, huffington post, massey coal, massey energy, Texas, west virginia mining disaster |
Important update! The first day you can make a reservation for the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program has changed from April 5 to April 7, starting at 7 a.m. CT.
We know from past experience that reservations for programs like this fill up quickly. If you don’t make a reservation Wednesday, you may be put on a waiting list or miss out entirely on this opportunity.
Texas residents can receive rebates for replacing old appliances with new, more efficient models. Rebates range from $45 up to $1,000 and may be even more if you qualify for additional rebates through your electric utility.
Go online or call 1-877-780-3039 toll free to make your reservation. You don’t need a specific model in mind, just the appliance category. Then, purchase your qualified appliance at any Texas retailer starting April 16.
Reserve your appliance trade up April 7, starting at 7 a.m. CT. Save money and conserve water and energy with the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program!
Posted in Efficiency, Energy | Tagged appliances, Energy Efficiency, Texas, texas trade up appliance rebate program |
Have you really really been wanting to get a flywheel energy storage (FES) project going, but were short a million or two? The window of opportunity to apply for your share of the $3 million available for the New Technology Implementation Grant (NTIG) Program will be opening soon. Now’s your time to shine!
The idea behind the program is to incentive new technology that uses renewable energy and reduces emissions, specifically regulated pollutants from point sources. Ideal applicants would be would be electricity storage projects related to renewable energy like Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), pumped hydropower, sodium sulfur storage batteries, and flywheels — but really any new technology that reduces emissions will qualify! This is by no means free money though, it is a rebate and you must be able to match grant funds with a little moola of your own.
Applicants will have 3 opportunities to cast their line at the big grant fish. After the first go-round, if all of the money has not been granted out to renewable energy storage technologies, advanced clean energy projects (cough cough, clean coal) will have an opportunity to apply. After that application period, if there is any money left, the grant will once again be open to energy storage projects. And next year, they’ll do the whole thing all over again!
The grant is the result of hard-won legislation passed in the spring of 2009. The original legislation put the pool of money at $10 million, but that amount was cut significantly due to Governor Perry’s attempts to balance the budget out. We’re pretty sad that the Guv cut funds from this program to encourage both Emerging and Advanced technologies, but it certainly wasn’t up to us. Hopefully Texas entrepreneurs will be able to do well with what is available, and we’ll see new technology supported and significant emissions reductions as a result.
###
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 Global Warming | Tagged advanced clean energy projects, clean coal, compressed air energy storage, flywheel energy storage, hydropower, new technology implementation grant program, point source pollution, renewable energy, sodium sulfur storage batteries, Texas |
The Texas Progressive Alliance welcomes the start of the new baseball season with another highlight reel of the week’s political activity.
Off the Kuff looked at how voting returns changed in Texas from 2004 to 2008 in the Presidential and judicial races.
Aruba Petroleum: The Epic Fail of the Barnett Shale. Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS now brings you 55 posts to document this failure of epic proportions.
Marshmallow Peeps make sweeping endorsements of Democrats on The Texas Cloverleaf.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders why Republicans and Republican suck ups act like bleeping thugs? New Perry appointee, Nueces County DA Jimenez, threw out the board certified attorneys to bring in her cronies and HD 76 rep Norma Chávez is channeling Karl Rove.
The last chapter (?) in the sad saga of Stay Bailey Hutchison is read aloud by PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.
Sure April Fools Day is over, but this was funny enough to share again. Sarah Palin to Replace Michael Steele as Chair of the GOP. Bay Area Houston continues to be full of wit.
This week on Left of College Station, Teddy takes a first look at the Bryan mayoral candidates, and this week he will be taking a look at the candidates for College Station City Council Place 2 and Bryan City Council Single Member District 3. Left of College Station also covers the week in headlines.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the GOP’s latest posturing and states that it’s time for Gov. Perry and the Texas GOP to put up or shut up.
Neil at Texas Liberal wrote about undersea volcanoes in the Gulf of Mexico that shoot out asphalt. Who knew?
WhosPlayin says animal welfare actvists in North Texas are claiming a victory in their fight against puppy mills: After months of weekly picketing by Texans Exposing Petland, the Lewisville, Texas Petland store is closing down.
###
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 Global Warming | Tagged april fools, aruba petroleum, Barnett shale, bryan, governor perry, gulf of mexico, kay bailey hutchison, lewisville, mayoral candidates, michael steele, Norma Chavez, nueces county, off the kuff, petland, sarah palin, south texas chisme, Texas, texas cloverleaf, texas progressive alliance, volcanoes, voting returns, welfate |
April 5, 2010 by Citizen Carol
New federal statistics indicate the decarbonization of our nation is starting to happen. Wind power is on the rise, big time; rooftop solar is coming down in price and large scale utility solar is beginning to be considered.
In 2008, 19,000 megawatts of new generating capacity went online. Around 8,300 megawatts of that were from wind and only 1,600 from coal with much of the rest from natural gas. Over the next few years, utilities are planning to put 27,000 megawatts of capacity on line, only 5,000 of which is coal — and 11,000 of which is wind power.
If solar (both distributed and large scale utility generation) gets a foothold combined with storage in the next several years and we pursue energy efficiency efforts agressively, we could dramatically reduce the need for the development of new fossil fuel generation.
###
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 Coal, Global Warming | Tagged climate change, Coal, decarbonization, natural gas, rooftop solar, Texas, utility solar, wind |
April 4, 2010 by Citizen Carol
PUBLIC CITIZEN’s TEXAS OFFICE is a
Celebrating Earthday in April, look for this tearpad at HEBs and give to Public Citizen’s Texas office through Earthshare
Public Citizen’s Texas office is pleased to announce that H-E-B has selected EarthShare of Texas to be the beneficiary of its in-store coupon promotion for April, in recognition of Earth Day. This means that customers can tear off and add check-out coupons worth $1, $3, or $5 to their total bill.
In November, H-E-B’s San Antonio region stores will feature EarthShare of Texas — giving H-E-B’s San Antonio customers the opportunity to support environmental work in the San Antonio area.
Look for the EarthShare of Texas display and tear-off coupons at the check-out stands in your local H-E-B and Central Market stores beginning in late March through April. Help support Public Citizen, EarthShare of Texas and the Texas environment!
###
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 Uncategorized | Tagged earth day, earthshare, environmental organizations, heb, public citizen texas, San Antonio, Texas |
The staff at Public Citizen Texas would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter and a pleasant weekend with family and friends.
Thanks for taking time during the holiday to read about our energy advocacy progress.
The week in review… Continue Reading »
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Activism, Andrew Sauls, carol geiger, david power, get to know an activist, health reform bill, las brisas energy center, Melissa Sanchez, mona avalos, patrick reck, Public Citizen, reengerize texas, ryan rittenhouse, sarah mcdonald, Tar Sands, Texas, trevor lovell, week in review, white stallion |
Editor’s note: Normally we don’t stray into the political implications of public policy, but after Patrick wrote this response to President Obama’s new drilling policy we felt it was too interesting to keep to ourselves. So here’s a try at something new: Commentary and Opinion from Patrick Reck.
Wednesday’s announcement by President Obama to expand offshore oil drilling and gas exploration is devastating, especially for a Yankee like myself. I grew up cherishing my yearly family vacations to Ocean City, Maryland and Virginia Beach. Pristine memories of balcony breakfasts at sunrise, pirate mini-golf, and running with kites flying so high that you wonder if the sky is as endless as the sea.
Now, I get waves of nausea thinking that in 10 or 15 years, children will walk down those same beaches and gaze out, not at the brilliance of the colors in the sky and the mystery of where the horizon meets the sun, but at a row of tiny metal cranes, stooping down low to suck black blood out of the Atlantic.
Hopefully the ocean will still evoke profound wonder in developing minds, but will it be the fascination of Copernicus or the madness of Ahab?
“The white whale tasks me; he heaps me. Yet he is but a mask. ‘Tis the thing behind the mask I chiefly hate; the malignant thing that has plagued mankind since time began; the thing that maws and mutilates our race, not killing us outright but letting us live on, with half a heart and half a lung.” Continue Reading »
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged fossil fools, fossil fuel fools, obama, obama's black whale, offshore drilling, Texas |
April 2, 2010 by Citizen Carol
A report by the National Wildlife Federation warns climate change would spur fire ant invasion as well as allow tiger mosquitoes and other harmful or invasive species to spread farther across the U.S. There is even the potential for us to see ticks that spread Lyme disease expanding their range, cheatgrass fueling more wildfires and poison ivy causing more rashes in the not too distant future.
Check out the video “They Came From Climate Change”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odof7-s65XQ&feature=player_embedded]
###
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 Global Warming | Tagged climate change, Texas |
This month, the Texas Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission will hear feedback on a proposed rule allowing the importation of so-called low-level radioactive waste into Texas from across the nation. Under the proposed rules Waste Control Specialists (WCS) would be allowed to import additional radioactive waste from other areas of the country and potentially the world into Andrews County, Texas.
Click here to take action! Tell the Compact Commission you do not want Texas to become the nation’s radioactive waste dumping ground!
An environmental analysis performed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) found potential problems with the site, including possible pathways to underground aquifers. Three TCEQ staff members have resigned or taken early retirement as a result of the decision to grant the license. While TCEQ did approve the license, the Sierra Club has appealed that decision to the State District Court.
Take Action Now!
Even though the license granted by the TCEQ has been appealed, and the site has yet to be constructed, the eight-member Compact Commission is rushing ahead with this proposed rule at the behest of WCS and nuclear power plants, who are both desperate to find a place to send their waste. The Compact Commission does not even have a staff to review proposed importation agreements. A coalition of groups is opposing the rush to approve this rule. The groups are urging the Commission to deny the ability to import any waste other than Texas-Vermont compact waste or to put much stricter rules in place on how waste might be imported on a case-by-case basis. The present license only has enough capacity for waste from Texas and the other compact state Vermont.
Join us now to send a message to the Compact Commission!
In addition to e-mailed comments, the public may also make comments at two public hearings in Austin, TX on April 5 and Andrews, TX on April 6.
Austin Hearing – April 5, 2010, 1:00 PM at the Texas State Capitol Extension Auditorium, E1.004
Andrews Hearing – April 6, 2010, 6:00 PM at Andrews High School Little Theater, 1401 NW Avenue K.
###
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 Nuclear | Tagged andrews county, Austin, compact commission, Nuclear, public citizen texas, state district court, TCEQ, Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, texas low level radioactive waste dump, waste control specialists |
Posted in Energy | Tagged earthworks, fort worth, gasland, gwen lachelt, josh fox, lon burnam, modern art museum, movie, sundance, Texas, texas ogap, Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project (OGAP) |
Ain’t timing a funny thing? The very morning our most excellent op-ed on the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program gets published in the San Antonio Express-News, the Comptroller’s Office decides to change the reservation date from April 5th to the 7th. Silly stuff. Check out our amended op-ed below, and visit the Express-News to help us clarify the date change in the comments section!
Appliance rebate program good for Texans
If someone handed you a $300 check to trade in your old fridge for a new one, would you do it? Would knowing you could shave $150 a year from your electric bill sweeten the deal? By taking advantage of the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program from April 16-25, you can do just that.
We often have critical things to say about the state government, especially when it comes to how it approaches energy and climate change issues. Consider, for instance, our ongoing campaigns to block new coal plants and stop new nuclear reactors.
But in this case, we must praise Texas, because it has come up with a way to boost energy efficiency and ease the burden on Texans’ pocketbooks.
Under the rebate program, Texans not only will save money but will continue to save on their electric and water bills throughout the life of the more efficient appliances. Rebate reservations can be made through www.TexasPowerfulSmart.org or by calling 1-877-780-3039 toll free starting April 7. However, funds are limited to only $23 million, and based on past appliance rebates, this money will go fast. Reserve your rebate early or you will miss this opportunity.
Most people think of energy conservation as having to give something up, but with highly efficient appliances you get the same product and end result — with less energy and money spent. Continue Reading »
Posted in Efficiency, Energy | Tagged appliance rebate, comptroller's office, consortium for energy efficiency (CEE), david power, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Public Citizen, rebate reservation, san antonio express news, seco, state energy conservation office, Texas, texas powerful smart, texas trade up appliance rebate program |
This morning the Comptroller’s office announced that they will push back the rebate reservation day for the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program from April 5 to the 7th. The idea is to give families more time to maneuver around the holiday weekend. Check out their announcement:
Appliance Rebate Program Reservation Launch Date Changed to April 7
Because we want to ensure all Texas residents have an opportunity to participate in the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program, the date to reserve rebates for select appliances has been changed from April 5 to Wednesday, April 7, beginning at 7 a.m. CT.
The Comptroller’s office made this move in response to inquiries from families who plan to celebrate and travel during the religious holidays.
Beginning April 7, 2010 at 7 a.m. CT, consumers can visit the online reservation system at www.TexasPowerfulSmart.org or call toll-free to 1-877-780-3039 to reserve rebates. The purchase period start date for all appliances remains April 16, 2010.
For more information, including a complete set of rules and qualifying appliances, or to sign up for Texas Appliance Rebate e-mails and mobile alerts, visit www.texaspowerfulsmart.org/rebate/. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/powerfulsmart.
As always, subscribers to our Appliance Rebate e-mail list will receive updated information as it becomes available.
###
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 Efficiency, Energy | Tagged comptroller's office, Energy Efficiency, Texas, texas powerful smart, texas trade up appliance rebate |
Another beautiful spring day and another bright and blooming Public Citizen Texas staffer to fill your screen. Melissa Sanchez is our administrative assistant and the first face you’ll see when you walk into our Austin office. Melissa is a self-proclaimed woman of many hats. She must wear these hats at home because I’ve never seen her wear one while in the office. Although, when she’s trying to beat the masses, she’s got a pair of cheap sunglasses.
Off Broadway and live in Austin, here is her small screen debut:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKtidHmSZkU]
###
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 Global Warming | Tagged Activism, energy advocacy, Melissa Sanchez, Public Citizen, Texas |
« Newer Posts - Older Posts »
