The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality voted today to allow the expansion of the Limestone coal-powered energy plant northeast of Austin. As KUT’s Mose Buchele reports, environmental groups are pointing to the vote as proof that the Commission is out of step with changing national attitudes towards carbon emissions.
Before the vote was even finalized, representatives from the Sierra Club and Public Citizen held an impromptu press conference to decry the plant’s expansion. One reporter asked how they were so sure the vote would go through.
“The TCEQ has only denied six air permits since 1971. They’ve issued over 86,000 air permits. It’s why we’re number one in mercury pollutions, its why we’re number one in carbon dioxide emissions. Because the TCEQ is in fact a rubber stamp” — Eva Hernandez, Sierra Club.
But federally, environmental groups see a different trend. The EPA this week recognized Co2 as a public threat that should be regulated. And on December 21st Hernandez says the Feds could issue new standards for acceptable air quality.
