(February 7, 2007)--Texas Baptist leaders are working to block Gov. Rick Perry's plan to speed approval for as many as 18 new coal-fired power plants, half of which would be built in Central Texas—four in McLennan County, alone.

The move is seen as unusual considering the largest national Baptist organization officially opposes environmental activism.

The Christian Life Commission, the public policy agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, is mobilizing Baptists to oppose the coal-fired plants by urging members to contact legislators.

The Associated Baptist Press quotes Christian Life Commissoin Director Suzii Paynter as saying God has given the earth as a gift of creation.

“When we are in his world, when we are near the things he has created, we are then connecting ourselves with a deep heritage of honoring God’s creation,” she told ABP.
“Christ calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves and to serve the least of these,” Paynter said.
“We must protect our children, the elderly and God’s creation by encouraging our leaders to choose cleaner power sources and a more economically sound path.”
The Texans, however, stress they're not jumping into full-blown activism.

They're avoiding high-profile marches and demonstrations.

But even a small move toward environmentalism is significant.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas is the largest state convention in the Southern Baptist Convention. It has more than 2.3 million members.

In November, it adopted a resolution affirming, "that we advocate for sound environmental policies in the public square."

That runs counter to the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country with more than 16 million members.

The SBC adopted a resolution last summer denouncing environmental activism and warning that it was "threatening to become a wedge issue to divide the evangelical community."

Bruce T. Gourley, associated director of The Center for Baptist Studies at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., says, "This is cutting-edge stuff for Baptists -- even moderate Baptists."

Click Here For Christian Life Commission Web Site

The Proposed Plants

Bexar County
J. K. Spruce (CPS Energy): 1 new coal unit
Calhoun County
Formosa Plastics: 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
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 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

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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