(February 23, 2007)—Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco, who introduced a bill calling for a 180-day moratorium on the permitting process for coal-fired power plants in Texas, said Friday he’s drafting additional legislation aimed at finding “the best possible long term answers” about how to meet the state’s energy needs without damaging the environment.

An administrative panel postponed a hearing scheduled to begin this week on permits for six proposed TXU coal-fired plants after a state district judge in Austin blocked Gov. Rick Perry’s executive order fast tracking the permitting process.

“This moratorium is exactly what my HCR 43 sought to do,” Anderson said Friday.

“This is no time, however, to rest on our laurels. The moratorium will give all participants in the permit application process time to fully develop their arguments and will give the legislature time to deal with this very important health issue,” he said.

Anderson said he’s drafting and will introduce legislation that provides incentives for cleaner coal technology, requiring the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to analyze the cumulative effect of emissions from the proposed coal-fired plants and establishing an umbrella group of representatives of the TCEQ, the Public Utility Commission and the Energy Reliability Council of Texas to coordinate efforts to meet the state’s energy needs while preserving a healthy environment.

“It is vitally important that we focus on the big picture to maintain clean air and strong economic growth for Texas,” Anderson said.

The Proposed Plants

Bexar County
J. K. Spruce (CPS Energy): 1 new coal unit
Calhoun County
Formosa Plastics: 2 new coal units
Calhoun Co. Nav. Dist.: 1 new coal unit
Fanin County
Valley (TXU): 1 new coal unit
Freestone County
Big Brown (TXU): 1 new coal unit
Limestone County
Limestone (NRG Energy): 1 new coal unit
McLennan County
Lake Creek (TXU): 1 new coal unit
Sandy Creek (LS Power): 1 new coal unit
Tradinghouse Creek (TXU): 2 new coal units
Milam County
Sandow (TXU): 1 new coal unit
Mitchell County
Morgan Creek (TXU): 1 new coal unit
Nueces County
Proposed coal gasification plant, which is considered a cleaner technology
Robertson County
Oak Grove (TXU): 2 new coal units
Twin Oaks (PNM Resources: 1 new coal unit
Rusk County
Martin Lake (TXU): 1 new coal unit
Titus County
Monticello (TXU): 1 new coal unit

Proposed Coal Plant Information Sites

Click Here For UT Coal Modeling Study Web Site

Click Here For TXU Energy Web Site

Click Here For Report On TXU’s Proposed Pollution Offset Strategy

Click Here For Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Web Site

Click Here For Alliance For A Clean Texas Web Site

Click Here For Public Interest Research Groups Report On Consequences Of Expanding US Coal Dependence

Click Here For Report On Impact Of Mercury Prepared For Clear The Air

Click Here For Environmental Defense Web Site

Click Here For SEED Coalition Web Site

Click Here For Texans Protecting Our Water Environment And Resources Web Site

Click Here For Keep Waco Green Web Site

State Capitol Links

Click Here For Texas House of Representatives Web Site

Click Here For Texas Senate Web Site

Click Here To Find Information About Specific Bills

Click Here For Texas House Speaker’s Web Site

Click Here For Texas Lt. Governor’s Web Site

Click Here For Texas Governor’s Web Site

Click Here For Legislative Budget Board Web Site

Central Texas State Senators

Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor
(State Sen. District 22 includes: Bosque*, Coryell*, Ellis, Falls*, Hill*, Hood, Johnson, McLennan*, Navarro, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Averitt Senate Web Site

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
(State Sen. District 24 includes: Bell*, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton*, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas*, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Mills*, San Saba*, Taylor Counties)
Click Here For Fraser Senate Web Site

Sen. Steve Odgen, R-Bryan
(State Sen. District 5 includes: Brazos, Burleson, Freestone*, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon*, Limestone*, Madison, Milam*, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Williamson Counties)
Click Here For Ogden Senate Web Site

Central Texas State Representatives

Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana
(State Rep. District 8 includes: Anderson, Freestone*, Limestone*, Navarro Counties)
Click Here For Cook House Web Site

State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
(State Rep. District 10 includes: Hill*, Ellis Counties)
Click Here For Pitts House Web Site

State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
(State Rep. District 20 includes: Milam*, Williamson-part, Counties)
Click Here For Gattis House Web Site

State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville
(State Rep. District 53 includes: Callahan, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Real, Runnels, San Saba*, Schleicher, Sutton Counties)
Click Here For Hilderbran House Web Site

Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen
(State Rep. District 54 includes: Bell-part*, Burnet, Lampasas* Counties)
Click Here For Aycock House Web Site

Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple
(State Rep. District 55 includes: Bell-part County)
Click Here For Delisi House Web Site

Rep. Charles Anderson, R-Waco
(State Rep. District 56 includes: McLennan-part County)
Click Here For Anderson House Web Site

Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
(State Rep. District 57 includes: Falls*, Leon*, McLennan-part*, Madison, Robertson Counties)
Click Here For Dunnam House Web Site

Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson
(State Rep. District 58 includes: Bosque*, Johnson Counties)
Click Here For Orr House Web Site

Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville
(State Rep. District 59 includes: Comanche, Coryell*, Erath, Hamilton*, Mills*, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Miller House Web Site

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