Texans Rally Against New Coal Plants - AP

[Eugene]

Texans Rally Against New Coal Plants

By JIM VERTUNO
The Associated Press
Monday, February 12, 2007; 6:16 AM

AUSTIN, Texas -- Carrying signs with slogans of "Stop the Coal Rush" and "Shame on Texas,"
about 1,000 people rallied at the state Capitol to persuade lawmakers to abandon a plan
to build up to 18 new coal-fired power plants.

Environmentalists fear the new plants will pump millions of tons of pollutants into the air
every year.

-snip-

The TXU proposal is on the fast track under an order Gov. Rick Perry issued in 2005 to
expand the production of electricity and lower its cost.

Those attending the rally, organized by about 40 environmental and health advocacy groups,
including the Sierra Club and the American Lung Association, called on lawmakers to support
a time out on permits for the new plants.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/12/AR2007021200090.html

[phantom power]

1. Any Texans out there have a feel for whether this opposition stands a chance?

I want to believe it, but I fear that the American jones for cheap energy will make a coal-rush too seductive to resist, especially as our house-of-cards economy starts to collapse and really puts the squeeze on.