December 19, 2006
TXU runs afoul of the EPA and others
You might remember that 39% fast tracked some dirty coal plants to be built over the next few years. Apparently, they are already running into problems. Somervell County Salon posted some items of interest on this, specifically
In recent formal comments to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, regional EPA officials suggested that the state agency is not adequately taking into account the cumulative impact of the region’s proposed coal plants....In letters commenting on the permits for Lake Creek and Tradinghouse, EPA officials said more monitoring and analysis are needed to ensure the new plants don’t drive Waco and Robertson County into federal “nonattainment” status for ozone pollution.
“Due to the ozone attainment challenges in Texas, EPA is concerned about the cumulative impacts of the proposed new power plants, especially on ozone levels,” wrote Jeff Robinson, EPA air permits chief, in a six-page letter to the TCEQ on Nov. 27.
EPA officials also question whether TXU has proved that the pollution controls the company is proposing represent the “best available control technology,” as the Clean Air Act requires.
Of course, the EPA is still solidly under the thumb of Connecticut native George W. Bush so don't expect too much from them. Might have better luck with the next group that has had a great idea... cut off TXU's funding
The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) said it sent letters asking 54 financial institutions not to participate in lending TXU US$11 billion to fund construction of the plants.According to RAN, the plants will produce 78 million tons of new carbon dioxide emissions per year, greater than the greenhouse-gas emissions of 21 US states or the entire emissions reduction commitment of Japan under the Kyoto Protocol.
TXU badly needs to rethink this entire project.
Posted by mcblogger at December 19, 2006 03:13 PM
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