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Archive for March 26th, 2010

Week in Review

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 26, 2010 |

After Week in Review‘s SXSW hiatus, our weekly blog update is back in action, keeping you posted on Public Citizen’s energy advocacy work. (more…)

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Party In The Dark During Earth Hour

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , , , on March 26, 2010 |

Worried about your environmental impact? This Saturday, March 27th at 8:30pm is your chance to participate with millions of people around the world during Earth Hour.

“What do I have to do?” Simply turn off the lights for one hour.

During this hour we can universally flip the switch on dirty air, foreign oil, and the impact that we have on climate change. This is a chance where we can all work together and have a positive impact while protecting not only our future but the future of the Earth.

“What am I going to do in the dark for an hour?” I am glad you asked. Here are some simple ideas:

  1. Invite your friends over for an Earth Hour Party
  2. Have a candlelight dinner with your family
  3. Set up camp in your home and share scary stories
  4. Meditate – the calmness is the perfect environment for meditation
  5. Take a walk under the moonlight
  6. Gaze at the stars

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5WYlqD8mR0&feature=player_embedded]

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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TCEQ Commissioners want Tax Breaks for Polluters, Tax Increases for Neighborhoods Near Refinery

Posted in Campaign Finance, Energy, Good Government, Toxics, tagged , , , , , , , on March 26, 2010 |

An eye opening story from KHOU earlier this week gave more insight into what’s the matter at TCEQ.  It’s worth your 5 minutes to watch the entire thing but here are the highlights:

Valero installed a pollution scrubber to create lower sulphur fuels in one of their Houston refineries.  The problem? According to TCEQ staff, the scrubbers actually create MORE local pollution, and to add insult to injury, the vast majority of the lower polluting fuel gets sold in California and New Jersey.

But Valero still wants a tax break specially designed for technology that lowers LOCAL pollution for installing this scrubber.  Because the tax cut would be retroactive, this would mean Houston area taxpayers would be on the hook to make up the deficit.  That means either a tax hike or layoffs for teachers, firefighters, and police. (more…)

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Licensing Board to Hear Oral Arguments on STP Application April 7th in Bay City, TX.

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , on March 26, 2010 |

An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) panel will hear oral argument regarding a hearing in the South Texas Project Combined License (COL) proceeding on April 7 in Bay City, Texas. The ASLB is the independent body within the NRC that presides over hearings where the public can challenge proposed licensing and enforcement actions. (more…)

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NRG’s investment in STP contributes to stock downgrade

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , on March 26, 2010 |

According to the Wall Street Journal, Citigroup has downgraded shares of NRG Energy (NRG) to “Hold” from “Buy” and cut price targets to $25 from $27 on the stocks. Shares of NRG today are off 34 cents, or 1.6%, at $20.83.

Citigroup analyst Brian Chin warns that NRG’s investment in the South Texas Plant (STP) nuclear power plant expansion continues to consume resources without a clear indication from the U.S. Department of Energy that they will receive a loan guarantee for the plant, impacting investor enthusiasm.

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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