Austin Chapter, Physicians for Social Responsibility
But residents of the areas slated for these new coal-plants became concerned that fast-tracking the permits would allow the new plants to skirt pollution-reduction rules that are pending at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and several groups in Robertson and nearby counties formed to protest the fast-tracking, including Robertson County: Our Land, Our Lives and TPOWER in Riesel.
Then, Texas environmental organizations joined forces to call on Governor Perry to reverse the Executive order. Citing the fear that one of the largest plants - Oak Grove in Robertson County - would be the dirtiest in the nation, Karen Hadden of SEED Coalition asked, "Is this the best we can do? The worst in the nation?"
Moreover, questions regarding large donations to Perry's political campaign from the energy corporations applying for permits sparked further opposition to the proposed power plants. Utility provider TXU donated $5,000 to Governor Perry's campaign in November, just a few weeks after Perry announced the Executive order. TXU'S retired chairman, Erle Nye, also gave the Perry campaign $2,000 the day the order was signed Oct. 27 and an additional $25,000 in April. Mr. Nye has donated $150,000 to Perry.
"Elsewhere in the country, governors have ordered power companies to cut the emissions from their power plants to protect people from pollution," said Tom Smith, director of the Texas office of Public Citizen, a government watchdog group. "But these plants could be permitted before rules to require more pollution reductions are in place."
Said Greg Sheff, an Austin doctor and spokesman for Physicians for Social Responsibility, "Power plants emit sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and fine carbon soot particles directly from their smoke stacks . . . exposure to these pollutants can cause reduced lung function, more asthma attacks and even death in some patients." He also said that power plants can produce mercury, a toxic chemical that has been known to accumulate in the bodies of fish.
"This is a bipartisan issue," said Tom Smith. "I'm calling on all the candidates in the upcoming gubernatorial election to state their position on renewable energy and to let us know where they stand on this important issue."