Monday 18 December 2006

Which way to go in pursuit of power?

Special to the Star-Telegram
Fri, Dec. 15, 2006

Texas is at an energy crossroads. With a state population that could double in the next 30 years, we soon will have many more homes and businesses that need electricity. Across the state, policy-makers, experts and ordinary Texans are debating how best to meet these energy needs.

According to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the operator of most of the state's electric grid, Texas electricity use is growing by 2.3 percent every year; in 2008, demand will exceed safe levels of supply. Gov. Rick Perry, TXU and other electric utilities argue that 19 new coal-fired power plants are necessary to meet Texas' growing energy needs and avoid blackouts.

However, the proposed coal plants would supply much more electricity than ERCOT says Texas needs, and they wouldn't be brought online in time to meet the power crunch.

Even worse, this "coal rush" would mean continued mercury and soot pollution from power plant smokestacks, landscapes denuded and waterways fouled by mining operations, and massive emissions of the greenhouse gases that already have begun to warm the globe, threatening unimaginable harm to our environment, economy and society.

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