We Texans have more in common with the British than just funny accents – We are both destined for external carbon regulations.  But, here is the difference – The British recognize the necessity of accepting carbon dioxide reductions because they know that the opportunity – to restructure economics and politics towards sustainability – will, presently, cost exponentially less than the inexorable and increasing consequences we face in the future, if we do nothing today. 

Prince Charles and the Consul General of Britain addressed an audience of 200 in the Capitol yesterday (1/29/09), at a conference on economic opportunities and risks in a carbon-constrained world.  The conference was hosted by United Kingdom’s Houston consulate and the Environmental Defense Fund. 

The conference aired a video of Prince Charles who addressed the State, saying “At the risk of being a damned nuisance, I want to encourage you to assume a leadership role in creating a pro-business Texas model that lays the foundation for the state to … successfully compete in the coming low-carbon world economy,”  

As of now, there are no federal or state caps on CO2 emissions.  However, With Obama’s induction of science back into the White House, including Dr. Stephen Chu of Berkley National Laboratory, who recently led solar energy research there, many in politics and the environmental movement expect word of carbon regulation from the Obama administration in the near future. 

But here in Texas?  Unfortunately, our elected “leaders” just don’t see the light.  Governor Rick Perry said on Tuesday that Texas’ petrochemical and petroleum refining industry “makes us a big target on the radar of an increasingly activist EPA” which could “severely harm our energy sector.”  

No, Governor, it is politicized dereliction from the future of our economy and your vantage on dirty energy sources which makes us a target for the new EPA.   

One thing that Governor Perry may not be aware of the growing movement of youth across Texas, who demand a shift towards proactive climate change policy, for our economy and for our future.   

ReEnergize Texas adamantly supports these youth, and will be conducting the largest youth climate conference ever held in Texas, from March 28^th-30^th, to train and involve students across the state in advancing the movement towards a climate-conscious government and economy.  On the March 30^th, hundreds of youth across Texas will bring their demands to the Capitol for a major Youth Climate Lobby Day in Texas. 

We are, after all, the state producing the most emissions, of the nation producing the most emissions, in the world.  That makes us Ground Zero for Climate Change.

Paul Lynch, the Consul General, sensibly provided perspective to the Capitol audience, in stating “What makes this different from other environmental issues is that it’s not local: You can’t divorce what happens in the U.S. from what happens in the U.K.,” Lynch said.

Patrick Meaney

Youth climate summits – you should check one out.  They’ve been organized for campuses, states, and in the nation’s capital to promote opportunities for students to network, share ideas, and learn more.  And the really cool thing is they mesh issues including environment, economics, political philosophy, and social justice.

 This past November my friends at Southwestern University put on a summit.  It was held for high school students and community members to come and learn about environmental issues, meet other students interested in the environment, and learn about how to be an activist and an organizer.

 ”There are a lot of high school groups that are doing great things for the environment, so we want to encourage and keep them interested by empowering them,” said coordinator Kimberly Griffin.  So, not only does it provide students with a reason to miss school, but it is educational and motivational as well. 

Although many summits are geared towards students, not all are. In my hood, there is going to be the UT Sustainable Business Summit, coming up on January 29^th and 30^th.  The summit aims to help entrepreneurs and corporate execs, as well as students, learn how to green their businesses and save money.  It will take a practical approach to environmentalism, one which is sincerely needed if our market economy is going to generate global solutions to climate change.

A photo from Powershift07, http://www.powershift09.org

On the national scale, there is the upcoming Power Shift summit, to be held on February 27-March 2 in Washington, DC.  Power Shift will bring together thousands of young people to lobby elected officials for climate and clean energy policies.  It will also give people the opportunity to meet other students from around the country and spread ideas about how to effectively tackle environmental issues.  And it gives students like myself an opportunity to convince our school departments to send us to DC for free.

 Last but not least is the ReEnergize Texas Summit, which is held for young people across the state of Texas to come together and fight climate change.  This event will focus a lot of attention on creating jobs for people struggling on farms and in cities, and will conclude with a symbolic march against racial and economic segregation, starting from a neglected neighborhood in East Austin and ending at the State Capitol.

 So get yourself to a summit and join a growing movement!  Or go to check out the boys.  Just be there, somewhere.

Jeni Wilde

 So which is it – what would you call a state’s application to set their own auto-emission regulations?

The Obama administration made a bold challenge to our nation’s sputtering auto industry and their political advocates today as he adroitly directed federal regulators to reconsider an application by California and other states during the Bush administration, to enforce the stricter than federal regulations on automobile efficiency and emissions.  While Obama stopped short of ordering the agencies to reverse the Bush administration’s policy to be reversed, it is widely expected that this will occur, especially with the replacement of Bush’s appointed EPA chief, Stephen Johnson.   

Allowing California and other states to regulate the emissions of their auto industry will overturn a Bush appointed EPA Administration’s denial of California’s waiver (application) to be allowed to regulate their automobile industry at more efficient standards than the federal government.  The Bush EPA’s justification of not allowing California’s waiver for more stringent regulations? Allowing individual states to regulate their own auto emissions would create a regulatory “patchwork”… of greater fuel efficiency…

  I didn’t follow their logic either.  Apparently neither did Obama, nor conscientious politicians of California, including Senator Boxer and Governor Schwarzenegger. 

Obama also directed the Department of Transportation to draft new automobile fuel economy regulations and to work with automakers to produce more fuel-efficient cars by 2011.

  Obama stated, “The days of Washington dragging its heels are over… My administration will not deny facts; we will be guided by them. We cannot afford to pass the buck or push the burden onto the states.”

  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote to Obama requesting his attention on this issue during the first week of his administration.  “With this announcement from President Obama less than a week into his administration, it is clear that California and the environment now have a strong ally in the White House… Allowing California and other states to aggressively reduce their own harmful vehicle tailpipe emissions would be a historic win for clean air and for millions of Americans who want more fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly cars,”   Schwarzenegger said.

At least 13 other states have vowed to adopt similar standards if California wins its waiver and bolsters standards, with more likely considering such measures.

  This move by Obama has angered Republicans and lawmakers from auto-producing states, but environmentalists say it takes a giant step toward curbing global warming since other states could impose stricter rules if the waiver is granted.

  US Senator Barbara Boxer, chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, epitomized my sentiment when she remarked, “It is so refreshing to see that the president understands that science must lead the way.”

  Thanks Obama, for this wide-reaching, powerful mandate to help combat climate change.  This is also a great opportunity for strong guidance for the ailing American auto industry so that they can produce better cars through smarter management. 

  And in your first week? Now thats what I call a Precedent!

Patrick Meaney

Texas is selling out — in a green way.  We’re generating so much wind that we’ve started to export it to other states.

Southwestern Electric Power Co., of Louisiana, signed a 20-year agreement with Majestic Wind Power LLC, to buy all of the output of Majestic’s wind generation farm in Carson County Texas, starting in February when it becomes operational. 

The Carson County wind farm consists of 53 General Electric 1.5 megawatt turbines, or enough wind to power about 12,200 homes in Texas.

This is part of a plan of American Electric Power Company Inc., announced in 2007 to voluntarily add 1,000 megawatts of wind energy to their network by 2011.  With Majestic Wind on board, AEP generates 455 megawatts from wind.  The company has said that additional proposals for 500 more megawatts are already in the works.

Some of these proposals likely come from Texas, as we are the leading producer of wind electricity in the US, with 6,297 MW generation capacity, about almost one-third of the 21,017 MW of national wind capacity as of September 30th, 2008.

We also have the largest wind farm in the world, the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Taylor County, with 421 turbines and a capacity of 735 MW, or about enough electricity to power 170,000-220,000 Texas homes.

As Jerry Patterson, the Texas Land Commissioner said in a New York Times interview last year, “We’re No. 1 in wind in the United States, and that will never change… Texas has been looking at oil and gas rigs for 100 years, and frankly, wind turbines look a little nicer.”

Texas is set to become a major exporter of wind energy to other states, as we are already the leading producer of wind in the nation. 

As a nation, we produced an estimated 49 million MW of wind energy in 2008, which was enough to power the equivalent of over 5.7  million homes.  Still, this is just 1.5% of the U.S. electricity supply.

Now, Germany is the leading wind energy producing country, with about 23,000 MW installed, yet is approximately 47,000 sq miles smaller than Texas.  We’re doing good Texas, but we have to pick up the pace.  Our nation is being out done by a nation 27 times smaller than us!  The US has an installed generating capacity of about 21,000 MW.

While Texas is leading the nation in wind generation, we are only tapping a tiny fraction of our 1.2 billion MW potential capacity.  We need to get on this quick, Texas, we have a lot of wind to capture!

Patrick Meaney

            Why would the TCEQ consign 1,338 acres of Texas to a nuclear waste storage site? 

            In 2003, the Texas 78^th Legislature passed HB 1567, allowing Waste Control Specialists LLC (WCS) to apply for a license to dispose of radioactive waste in Texas.  Last week, January 14th, the TCEQ granted this company 2 licenses to dispose of waste from nuclear facilities from around the country at a 1,338 acre treatment, storage, and disposal facility near Andrews, TX. 

“Before making such a historic decision to turn Texas into the nation’s nuclear waste repository further study of the adequacy of this site was needed,” said Sierra Club spokesman Cyrus Reed said.  Concerns raised by Area residents and the Sierra club can be found here. 

  These 2 licenses allow this facility to accept byproduct wastes from commercial nuclear plants and universities, which contain uranium, plutonium and thorium: radioactive heavy metals; and to accept radioactive soil and industrial debris from Department of Energy Nuclear Laboratories.

Interestingly, according to the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, the 2003 Texas Legislature was heavily lobbied by WCS. In the end they got HB 1567 passed which allowed the TCEQ to license the company to begin burying waste here (starting in 2010).

Texans for Public Justice Lobby Watch corroborates this, noting that from 1997-2000, Governor Rick Perry received $209,900 from Waste Control Specialists.  WCS is a subsidiary of Valhi, which is owned by Dallas Harold Simmons, along with another company Contran.  Harold Simmons is has contributed to “527 groups”, political groups which allowed him to fund the Swift Boat Veterans campaign against John Kerry, and more recently a campaign linking Obama to 1960’s anti-war radical William Ayers.  In 2004, Simmons personally contributed $2.5 million, mostly to Republican election groups. 

 A quick search on Open Secrets, a campaign finance tracking website, reveals that Contran Corp. contributed $1.5 million from 2002-2008 to Republican “527″ political groups.  

This guy, Simmons, Chairman of Contran and Valhi Corporations, which owns WCS is the Dallas billionaire who is set reap an even more massive fortune once WCS begins burying nuclear waste in Texas in 2010.  His obstacles? Taxes and environmental regulation.

While the TCEQ considers this to be “low level” waste, the Nuclear Waste Watch New Mexico states that Greater-Than-Class-C wastes (the type to be deposited here in Texas) are the most radioactive form of Low-Level Waste and are dangerous for hundreds of years. 

“WCS is grateful that the TCEQ has entrusted us with the responsibility to dispose of waste” said William Linquist, the company’s chief executive officer in a news release after the commission’s vote.  The vote came on January 14th with a 2-0 vote with one commissioner abstaining. 

            WCS a 15 license to operate the largest low level waste storage facility in the country.  What happens after, when the license is up… say 100 years from now?  The reality is that this radioactive waste will become Texas’ liability from the first day it arrives.

So, what do you think about a 1,300 acre section of Texas becoming a hazardous waste dump?  Could this trend lead to Texas becoming the next Yucca Mountain?  The people of Nevada are standing up and fighting nuclear waste repositories in their backyard.  It’s about time Texans did the same.

Patrick Meaney

Following the 1972 Buffalo Creek coal disaster, there was increasing concern for the environmental effects of strip mining. In 1977, President Carter signed into effect the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act . The SMCRA had two main components: one was regulation of surface mines and the second was reclamation of abandoned mines.

Damage from the coal disaster at Buffalo Creek, courtesy http://www.appalshop.org

Now, following the recent coal slurry spills that have occurred in Tennessee and Alabama in the past month, there has been an outcry for better regulations for coal ash impoundments. Excuse me? Aren’t we already supposed to have regulations according to the SMCRA?

The sneaky thing about the SMCRA is that it allows the states to determine their own requirements and have some general oversight from time to time by the Office of Surface Mining, which basically means that there is no minimum level of regulation for anybody.  The SMCRA is somewhat analogous to putting a fancy title on an empty book.  

Now people are becoming more concerned about the effects of surface mining and there is new legislation on the table. Recently, Rep. Rick Nahall (D-WV), chairman of the House Natural Resource Committee, introduced the Coal Ash Regulation and Environmental Safety Act of 2009. This new bill is supposed to do what SMCRA did not, and that is “impose uniform federal design, engineering, and performance standards on coal ash impoundments.”

I have to give Nahall credit for introducing this bill and calling for action, but if the SMCRA was supposed to be our regulatory measure, what makes us so sure that this new bill will be effective? Although our new government pledges to hold itself to higher environmental standards than administrations in the past, a certain amount of skepticism is necessary to make sure that we will not be the future victims of empty laws and easily preventable environmental disasters.

Jeni Wilde

On December 22, 2008, the coal spill at the Kingston Plant in Tennessee exposed 400 acres of land to numerous toxic chemicals. This was one of the worst environmental disasters to occur in the United States…surely other coal spills haven’t happened before and it will never happen again, right? Wrong.

 1972 Buffalo Creek Disaster: This disaster in Logan County, West Virginia, killed 123 people, injured 1,000, and left 4000 homeless. 

2000 Massey Energy Coal Disaster: This disaster at the Martin County Coal Company (owned by Massey Energy) in Inez, Kentucky, was the largest coal slurry spill of its time.  It released 306 million gallons of toxic sludge down 100 miles of waterways. 

2003 Independence Coal Spills: On August 6, there was a 250,000-gallon spill on Laurel Creek and on September 10, there was a 50,000-gallon spill on Pond Fork. Independence Coal, Co is a subsidiary of Massey Energy. 

2008 TVA Tennessee Coal Sludge Flood:  This is now the largest coal spills in United States history, releasing 5.4 million cubic yards, which is enough to flood more than 3,000 acres one foot deep. 

2009 TVA Alabama Gypsum Leak: Occurred less than three weeks after the one in Tennessee and there was up to 10,000 gallons of slurry spilled. 

Photo courtesy Knoxville News Sentinel

The disaster at Buffalo Creek was caused by the failure of a dam that had problems 5 years earlier, yet nothing was done to change it. After an investigation of the Massey Energy disaster, there were testimonies and documents that showed that executives and regulators were aware that there was a potential for catastrophe, but did nothing. The recent disasters at coal plants in Tennessee and Alabama were caused by ruptures in ponds of similar structure.  It was also said that in the case of the spill in Tennessee, there were known leaks but nothing was done to fix them. 

 These are surely not the only examples of failed coal plant design and lack of regulation. So, why have we not learned from the mistakes of coal companies and made them held to a higher standard…a higher standard for our own safety? What the heck is going on and why has nobody done anything?

 Luckily, many people are calling for stricter regulations, such as Jeffrey Stant of the Environmental Integrity Project, who says that “most states have lax regulations and that much of the monitoring is done on a voluntary basis by the utilities that own the plants that burn the coal.” US Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has been the leading politician blasting the coal companies and lack of protection they are giving to US citizens. 

 Whether or not these regulations are actually put into place is something only time will tell. But I hope they are because Texas produces more coal waste than all but one state and I like my cancer-free and reproductively capable body.

 In response to the outcry for more regulations, TVA spokesman Gil Francis said, “We’re not doing anything different than other utilities that have coal plants.”

 Well, Gil, maybe that’s the problem.

Jeni Wilde

(1/2)

Yesterday, January 14th,

      After less than 10 minutes of convening on Wednesday, the Texas Senate took a recess to discuss a proposal Sen. Dan Patrick has been pushing for since 2007: a change to the voting ratio required to pass a bill – From 2/3rds majority to 3/5ths, or 66% to 60%. Sen. Patrick wants the Legislature to rule on “special” bills by this new ratio, such as the requirement for Texans to present IDs when voting.  In Patrick’s words, “The highest priority [of the Senate] may well be voter ID.”  

Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston)

        Personally, I would say that the highest priority of the Senate involves keeping Texas’ economy strong while investing in its future — and we can do this simultaneously through investing in renewable energy, green jobs and educations integrating sustainability.

    Sen. Williams and Patrick have essentially mandated that Texas follow the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, which directs states to use driver’s license and social security to verify registration.   Several cases of voter identifcation issues and lawsuits cropped up in several states  entailing judicial action during this past election season.  

     The bill SR 14, authored by Sen. Williams, was passed 18-13 (72%), and allows suspension of the two thirds rule for “a bill or resolution relating to voter identification requirements reported favorably from the Committee of the Whole Senate may be set as a special order…” A bill relating to voter ID requirements has been set as a special order.  What next “priority” will be set as a special order?

       This vote was mostly along party lines, with the exception of one Republican, Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, who spoke to his Republican colleagues, “If I thought [voter ID] was the most important issue of the day, I’d be voting with you… I dare say most of you, with a straight face, cannot say this is the most important issue of the day.” 

       Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo said that the only winners on this issue are Dan Patrick and the Texas Republican Party. “You and I know the majority is not always right,” she said. “Today, the majority will prevail, and I am embarrassed for the state of Texas.” 

Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)

      The Democrats argued that allowing the two-thirds rule to be suspended would make it easier for “special order” issues, described during the debate as intractable or partisan, to be passed during the session.

     Furthermore, what is the true agenda behind this change of rules?  Is voter ID really this “special” or was the rule perhaps changed for ulterior purposes?  Sen. West questioned Sen. Williams, saying, “Is this more important than dealing with tuition deregulation?” Williams replied, “I believe it is.” 

      Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said, “I see a special order coming on redistricting…What’s going to happen in the future? The next ten years?”

       Redistricting?  I can think of a more important and contentious issue that I would not like to see come under “special order” consideration – The disposal of nuclear waste in West Texas by the company Waste Control Specialists, owned by billionaire Harold Simmons of Dallas, who is a major campaign contributor to Texas Republicans.   

      At a Phoenix conference last year, Waste Control Vice President, Bill Dornsife, said, “Considering our political support, considering our local support, if a new facility cannot be licensed in Texas, it probably can’t be licensed anywhere.”   

      More on this in my next blog.

Patrick Meaney

There has been a major shakeup in the Texas Legislature with the appointment of Rep. Joseph Straus as Speaker of the House.  Straus was just 9 years old when his predecessor, Former Speaker Craddick, began serving in the Legislature 40 years ago.   While Straus is a newcomer to State politics, having only been in the House since 2005, he has worked with Democrats on energy issues while inspiring Texas environmentalists and business interests.

While Rep. Straus has strong Republican ties dating back to work for Lamar Smith’s first campaign and the Reagan and George H. W. Bush  campaigns, he has worked with several Democrats on energy issues.  For example, he has worked on energy efficiency measures with Mark Strama and Rafael Anchía, as well as Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, who is popular among environmentalists and served on the Energy Resources committee.

Besides working across the isle on energy issues, Straus himself has authored or sponsored several important stepping stones to efficiency in Texas. 

According to director of Public Citizen Texas, Tom “Smitty” Smith, ”Joe Straus carried and passed the most far-ranging energy efficiency bill in a decade in the Texas Legislature.  In addition, he was somebody who was very interested in renewable energy and voted for a number of renewable energy measures in committee and later on the floor.”   Indeed, I am pleased to count 8 House Bills involving energy that Rep. Straus has authored or co-authored.   

 In Rep. Straus’ own words, from a recent Texas Monthly interview:

“In many respects, Texas already is a leader in the production of renewable energy. We are the national leader in wind energy, and we’re making strides in solar power and biomass. I authored and passed a bill that enhances the state’s existing energy efficiency programs. It requires all electric providers to participate in efficiency programs, adds new incentives for the sale of energy efficient products, enables customers to better manage their own electric consumption, and updates public building energy codes in order to increase conservation.”

Today is a brand new day.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and there is a brand new Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.  Representative Joseph Straus has been awarded by the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Texas Public Power Association, for his work in energy efficiency and leadership and contributions to public power.  At the same time, Straus is pro-business, with a 94% lifetime rating from the Association of Business.  All I can say is that I am looking forward to working towards progressive energy measures in a legislature with a brand new speaker who is amiable to both business, environmental, and energy interests.

Patrick Meaney