Texas Coal Fired Utility Building 'Alamo of Coal'
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 12.16.06
The Dallas Morning News of 13 December reports that "...prominent Dallas executives are rallying the business community to oppose TXU Corp.'s plan to build 11 coal- fired power plants...The Container Store chairman Garrett Boone, Consumer Club Inc. chief executive David Litman, and real estate scion Trammell S. Crow formed a political action committee last week called Texas Business for Clean Air. So far, about 20 big-name business leaders have endorsed the group. The businessmen worry that pollution could hurt economic development, boosting health care costs and making it more difficult to attract talented workers". Well duh. Apparently the only ones not understanding this are coal fired utility executives. And Climate Change is not even on the issue roster! The TBCA signatories (from Dallas Morning News article) are listed below. For more local perspective on the TXU proposal controversy, we recommend Preston's Jetson Green blog post, from which we borrowed the symbolic photo (may not be Dallas)
Endorsements for the Texas Business for Clean Air political action committee:
Trammel S. Crow, founder, Crow Collection of Asian Art
Garrett Boone, chairman, The Container Store
David Litman, chief executive, Consumer Club Inc.
Wick Allison, publisher, D Magazine
Dick Bartlett, vice chairman, Mary Kay Inc.
Randy Best, chairman, Best & Associates
Stephen Butt, senior vice president, Central Market
Hal Brierley, chairman, Brierley & Partners
Edwin Cox, chairman, Edwin L. Cox Co.
Steve Durham, co-chairman, American Strategic Alliances
Roger Enrico, chairman, Dreamworks Animation
Howard Hallam, president, Ben E. Keith
Bill Hutchinson, chief executive, Dunhill Partners
Tom Lardner, Bright Sun
Aubrey McClendon, chairman, Chesapeake Energy Corp.
Liener Temerlin, Temerlin Consulting
Jay Wagley, managing director, CBRE Melody
Sam Wyly, founder, Ranger Capital
John, thanks for the link back. That photo is actually of Hong Kong--not that it always looks like that, but sometimes it does ...
The construction of these Texas coal plants are among the most in-your-face and outrageous anti-environmental situations going on today.
More fun facts:
The are 18 plants total proposed to be built (including the 11 in this article).
ALL of the plants are OLD TECHNOLOGY 1920 era designs that these companies are rushing to build, largely because they want to build old technology plants before the so-called "clear skies" loophole expires.
These old technology plants (compared to newer (1950-1970 era) plants:
- cost slightly less to build...
- but pollute more, up to 300% more
- don't control many pollutants like small particle output
- cannot be upgraded to be less polluting
- cannot EVER be configured to sequester carbon
- are less efficient than newer designs.
This is just part of the "Coal Rush" to build old technology plants before the expiration of the loophole. Over 150 plants across the country are proposed, which will be be belching coal pollution "old school style" for the next 30 to 50 years.
Search treehugger for more articles by John and others about communities in Minnesota, North Carolina and elsewhere that are battling to breath clean air.
I'm sure that the coal fired utility executives understand the consequences of their actions; they just don't care, the costs are spread on everybody while they remain the sole beneficiaries.
Being from the Dallas area, a little thing called "Ozone Warning Days" comes to mind. Every year during the summer (which is from late april until early october), we get air quality and ozone warnings due to the intense smog in the DFW area. The fact someone is even THINKING of coal plants blows my mind, and I hope no Texans will stand for that. Ever heard of Don't Mess With Texas?
The coal fired plants must go and we must begin to design and live in homes that do not require so much energy. The answer may be under our feet, earth homes. We are building a 200 square foot work shed this summer with 18" rammed earth walls here in Dallas so as to test what is possible. It will have a white, ventilated and insulated metal roof. The roof will extend out over the south, west and east walls so these walls are never be heated by the sun. In the winter the north wall will receive some sun. We are ultimately seeking to build a home that requires little air conditioning, if any, during the summer, and no heating during the winter except for the worst days. We must save energy! See details at www.diyrammedearth.com. Apparently there are no other rammed earth homes in Dallas yet.