Energy Exchange

A New York Times Green Inc. article yesterday — “Big Utilities Pull Back on Coal Plant Plans” — stated that many Southwest utilities were shifting away from coal-generated power and moving toward renewables and energy efficiency. Many plants that were planned are now canceled or on hold.

So my question for all Texans is, “Why would we foolishly try to build even one more conventional coal plant?”

On September 22, 2009, the Texas Public Utility Commission plans a climate change summit asking the question, “Is Waxman-Markey Good for Texas?” After review of the topics and panelists invited, Environmental Defense Fund offers without editorial comment, the following facts on those representatives speaking in the first panel, “Academic/Not for Profit/Think Tank”: 

• The Heritage Foundation has received more than $57 Million from oil and chemical related foundations, including the Scaife Family Foundations, the John M. Olin Foundation and the Koch Family Foundations, as well as more than $500,000 from ExxonMobil. – SourceWatch.org, ExxonSecrets.org 
• Read More »

Yesterday I sent out this open letter about a joint meeting on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA) being proposed by the Public Utility Commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Railroad Commission’s Chairmen.

Let me know what you think. See the formal version here.

Dear Chairman Smitherman, Chairman Shaw, and Chairman Carillo,

I am glad to hear about your proposed joint meeting on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA) and that you are interested in hearing from all parties. I would like to add my voice to those legislators around the state such as Senators Rodney Ellis and Kirk Watson, and Representatives Rafael Anchia and Mark Strama who are asking that this joint meeting be a fair review of the facts regarding the bill and the economic impacts of climate change on Texas.  I would also like to see this joint meeting rise above the recent politically motivated press releases and op-eds by some Texas politicians, which relied on so-called “studies” that admittedly and intentionally did not analyze the job and economic benefits of the ACESA.  Read More »

It sounds like our Texas Senators have been reading forged constituent letters from the coal industry more than they’ve been listening to what Texas citizens are really saying. In July, Senator Cornyn claimed that Texans “are growing concerned that they will be significantly impacted by higher energy and farm input costs.”  Meanwhile, Senator Hutchison seems to think that the bill passed by the House “disproportionately attacks energy-producing states like Texas.”  Well, that’s not what real Texans are thinking.

National and statewide polls tell the real story: Texans agree with the rest of the country on the need for strong federal action on climate Read More »