Standing-Room-Only Crowd Near Dallas Jeers New Coal Power Plants

[hatrack]

BONHAM — A standing-room-only crowd applauded environmentalists at a public hearing in Bonham, letting TXU Corp. know that many don’t want a coal-fired power plant at Savoy.

Still, officials from Fannin County Commissioners Court, Bonham City Commission, Savoy City Council and Savoy ISD brought resolutions of support to representatives of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. While the elected officials talked about tax bases and the creation of jobs, residents and environmentalists expressed concerns about their health. They talked about dirty air — to be polluted by the proposed coal-fired power plant’s mercury emissions.

During formal comments, TCEQ staff did not respond. Formal comments were recorded and TCEQ staff will prepare written responses, which become part of the administrative record of the permit application. If permitted, TXU will unload a 120-car-long railroad train each day at Savoy. The coal will come from the Powder Creek Basin in Wyoming. The Savoy plant will emit 160 pounds of mercury each year and varying amounts of other contaminants. Those who packed into the Fannin County Courthouse Annex stayed past 10 p.m. Tom Wageman stepped to the microphone to ask TXU representatives why anybody would want a coal plant in their backyard. The TXU spokesperson who answered said there will be emissions, but that TXU is required to control them.

EDIT

Karen Hadden asked why these public meetings are being held so early. “I think these permits are being rushed — pushing through power plants that are not based on Texas resources. Powder River Basin represents resources coming in from Wyoming. You will be sending our dollars out of state, causing huge trainloads to come in, additional tracks and trains to be needed and it simply makes no sense. “Not once, despite repeated requests, has TXU provided even a single page of facts about the emissions the proposed plant would release in any given community. I find that incredibly disrespectful.” Hadden said. “I wonder if TXU provided all these well-meaning local officials with that information. I wonder how a school superintendent could support this.

EDIT

http://www.heralddemocrat.com/articles/2006/09/03/local_news/news14.txt

[NNadir]

1. Protests against coal facilities are completely appropriate.

There should be pressure to close existing fossil fuel plants of all types, but especially coal plants.

[msongs]

2. follow the $$$ and you will find the payoffs and kickbacks

if it's from wyoming, cheney is getting a cut.

msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Joanne98]

3. The coal will come from Wyoming! CHENEY maken mo money!

[girl gone mad]

4. No one I know in Dallas wants these plants...

yet many who oppose TXU still can't connect the dots to the corrupt Republicans who control our state politics.

[midnight]

5. Didn't Jr. and Co. turn Texas into the poorest air quality

state in the Country? All those children with asthma. Such a shame.

[phantom power]

7. Here is one reason why

This interesting study has become my rosetta stone for interpreting people's seemingly mysterious inability to connect the dots, on pretty much any issue:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/phantom%20power/15

[Delphinus]

6. Good to know there's opposition

and that people are letting their voices be heard.

The next step is to find an energy source that will work well.

[tex-wyo-dem]

8. Good book on the subject of big coal...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618319409/102-7858807-8502534?v=glance&n=283155

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0618319409.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_V65552694_.jpg