10/18/2010
by John Kelley
We The People News
City Council members expressed surprise at the price tag on the proposed water line to connect the Garwood Water Rights at Bay City on the Colorado River with Lake Texana and the Mary Rose Pipeline. Previously estimates had been as high as $165 million. As a result of the cost of the line to pump water the forty miles for the proposed Las Brisas Power Plant, rates would go up for City residential users an expected 3%. That figure could even be higher if the population growth projections hold true.
The plant’s air permit has been recommended against by two State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) judges, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Office of Public Interest, and two local and the state Medical Societies. The pet coke fueled power plant would erect four five hundred foot smokestacks on the inner harbor.
The estimates that the water would be needed by 2030 with or without Las Brisas were based on a projected growth rate of 3-6% over that time period. Those figures are unlikely though, the Texas State Demographers has projected growth at 0 to -8% between now and 2020. That would mean even higher prices for residential water users if growth lagged as expected.
If the air permit is not approved by TCEQ by January 1, 2010 it will face regulation of CO2 emissions projected at 10 million tons a year which Port reports say would make the plant financially unfeasible. The SOAH judges will hear further testimony in hearings October 18-21 and send a recommendation to commissioners by Dec. 10. The Executive Director of TCEQ said that they need to do everything possible to speed the process for the controversial plant to get its permit.
Over 240 people showed up at a town hall meeting on Thursday, October 7th to express their suggestions to TCEQ for the upcoming Sunset Hearings in the next Texas Legislative Session. Most participants said the TCEQ process failed cto protect citizens, citing Hillcrest and Dona Park contamination as well as the fact that commissioners could approve a permit over the objections of State Administrative Hearings Officers (SOAH) and the TCEQ Office of Public Interest (OPIC) as they recently did with the White Stallion coal plant in Bay City.
Public Officials Running for Election who support Las Brisas.
County Judge Loyd Neal: Supported a $40 million tax giveaway even though no other city wanted Las Brisas.
Gil Hernandez Candidate for
County Commission District 2
Blake Farenthold running for
U.S. Congress District 27
Raul Torres
State Legislative Candidate District 33
Connie Scott
State Legislative Candidate District 34
John Longoria
CCISD School Board District 1 made a commercial for it using a CCISD school bus.
Carol Scott
CCISD School Board District 4 Public Relations for Las Brisas
Brent Chesney Child and Family County Court 5
Discovered "a last minute conflict" causing him to recuse himself from a critical water contract vote on City Council he had pledged to vote against. When appointed to three cases in juvenile cases he no showed for all.