[Texgreen] City of Austin considers Coal Plant building

[Craig MIller]

From: Paul Robbins 


This Thursday, February 1, 2007, there will be an item on the City Council
agenda to approve negotiations for the purchase land to build a coal plant in
Matagorda County.  The wording is below.

The implications are profound.  This project will probably cost about half a
billion dollars.  Owning, fueling, and operating it over a 30-year time span
will cost billions more.  This money will take away from investments in energy
efficiency, cogeneration, and alternative energy.  While Austin's utility states
this coal plant may be a "clean coal" plant that sequesters carbon, there is no
assurance what kind of plant it will be.  Moreover, carbon sequestration is not
a proven technique.

 

The thing that alarms me the most though is the lack of public process.  We are
launching into a very expensive project with environmental implications without
even a public hearing. 

 

I have formally requested that City Council delay this action for 30 days so a
worksession and public hearing can be held.  I hope you can add your voice. 

 

Contacts for Austin City Councilmembers are also below.

 

Thanks,

 

Paul Robbins, 447-8712

 

COUNCIL CONTACTS

 

Mayor Will Wynn
974-2250
will.wynn@ci.austin.tx.us

Mayor Pro Tem Betty Dunkerley
974-2258
betty.dunkerley@ci.austin.tx.us

Council Member Mike Martinez
974-2264
mike.martinez@ci.austin.tx.us

Council Member Jennifer Kim
974-2255
jennifer .kim@ci.austin.tx.us

Council Member Lee Leffingwell
974-2255
lee.leffingwell@ci.austin.tx.us

Council Member Brewster McCracken
974-2256
brewster.mcCracken @ci.austin.tx.us

Council Member Sheryl Cole
974-2266

sheryl.cole@ci.austin.tx.us


FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2007 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

5.  Approve a resolution authorizing (1) the negotiation and execution of an
agreement with the City Public Service Board of San Antonio ("CPSE") to jointly
acquire land, options for land, and related water rights at a site in Matagorda
County, Texas, (2) the purchase, whether jointly with CPSE or otherwise, of such
land, interests in land, and related water rights, and (3) such other agreements
as may be necessary to accomplish these transactions. Request for funding
confidential pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.086 and 552.133, and
Council Resolution 20051201-002. The Electric Utility Commission was briefed, no
vote was taken or recommendation made. (Related to item #42)

SPEECH BY PAUL ROBBINS TO CITY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 25, 2007

Citizens of Austin; City Council:

I am Paul Robbins, an environmental activist and consumer advocate.

It has been reported in the press that Austin's electric utility, Austin Energy,
 is considering purchase of land to build a coal plant.  It is my information
that this will be posted on the City Council's agenda next Thursday.  I am
asking for a 30-day delay so that this Council has proper time to consider the
ramifications of such action.  As importantly, it will allow the public some
amount of time for analysis and input.  I am also asking you to set up a
discrete worksession and public hearing dedicated to this proposal.


Good public policy is not done on an emergency basis.  And this decision is too
important to the environment and economy of this city to rush it through without
proper oversight and public discussion.

Issues this Council must decide on include scrutinizing alternative that might
be employed instead of a new coal plant.  But even if Council decides that a
coal plant might be necessary, there are other considerations that need to be
discussed. Foremost of these is the issue of partnership with the City of San
Antonio.  If Austin must build this plant, it might be better for us to own it
ourselves.  San Antonio does not share this City's values.  It has proved too
often that it is more interested in the bottom line than environment, to wit,
the City utility's recent decision to build a pulverized coal plant.

Other important things include the cost of the land, the cost of the plant, how
this cost will be funded, and the citizen's right guaranteed in the City Charter
to approve financial debt.  I also wonder if location of the land should be
restricted only to Matagorda County.  Austin might find similar sights for less
cost elsewhere on the Gulf Coast.


Again, for all these reasons and more, I am asking Council to delay the vote on
land for a coal plant 30 days from February 1 so you may have time to properly
understand this issue and receive public comment.

 

Thank you.

 

STORY FROM AUSTIN CHRONICLE

 

Austin Energy's Coal Considerations Smoked Out?

 

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A439255


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