Environmental Defense Challenges TXU CEO To Debate On Eve Of Coal Plant Debate - TXU Craps Out

[hatrack]

Ån environmental group is calling TXU Chief John Wilder out. Dallas-based TXU Corp. recently sent a letter to Environmental Defense's regional director Jim Marston, asking the group to pull its ads protesting TXU's plan to build 11 new coal-fired plants in Texas.

TXU says Environmental Defense's ads, which began airing in Dallas this week, make "false and misleading claims" about TXU's power development plans. The environmental group responded Friday by inviting Wilder to a live, public debate with Marston.

"Dueling letters don't help the public understand this issue," Marston said in a statement Friday. "Texans care a great deal about their health and how TXU's plants will impact them. We think a pubic debate would be a much more productive way for each side to get its points across. We hope Mr. Wilder will find time in his schedule to accept our invitation."

Marston said TXU released its letter asking Environmental Defense to pull its ads to the public before he got a chance to see it and respond, so the group felt "compelled to set the record straight." TXU spokesman Tom Kleckner says TXU "could not seriously entertain their request for a debate unless and until they do the responsible thing and pull down their misleading advertisements."

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