State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, discusses a bill that would monitor coal waste at a press conference at the Capitol on Thursday afternoon. Photo courtesy of Paul Chouy at The Daily Texan
A while back we held a press conference to highlight the scale of Texas’ coal combustion waste problem. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recently released a report which found that Texas is the worst state in the nation in terms of toxic coal-ash waste that will result from proposed dirty coal-fired power plants. I could tell you all about it, or let the media that picked up the story speak for themselves. Today I am le tired and pick door number two.
So here it is, all the news that’s fit to link:
Lawmakers search for cleaner, safer ways to deal with excess coal waste,” by Matt Stephens with The Daily Texan
Environmental agency says Texas leads nation in production of coal ash waste,” by Randy Loftis at the Dallas Morning News
You can also watch a video of the press conference, courtesy of the House Archived Broadcasts. Look for the link at 3/12/09 titled “Press Conference – Coal Combustion Waste – Sponsored by Rep. Rodriguez.” Check it out to hear Texas State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) discuss his bill, HB 1450, which would improve the regulation of coal combustion waste, and to hear Travis Brown, president of Neighbors for Neighbors, speak about the danger coal combustion waste represents to human and environmental health.
NRDC’s new coal combustion waste site, launched along with the report, is also worth checking out. If you find the dropdown to see Texas’ state specific profile, you can find a map of existing and proposed coal plants in Texas as well as a statistical breakdown of the coal waste and toxic metals from existing and proposed plants. Scary stuff.
And of course, if you really, really want it… you can read the press release after the jump.
