Dirty Power Plants Opposed Over Heavy Air Pollution and Ozone

Sierra Club files evidence in Corpus Christi power plant case

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency raises concerns over Bay City power plant case

(Austin) -- Attorneys working on behalf of Sierra Club filed testimony and evidence in the Las Brisas Energy Center case, one of three hotly contested air permits currently pending before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

”The proposed Las Brisas power plant  in Corpus Christi, the Coleto Creek power plant expansion proposal near Goliad, and the White Stallion proposed power plant  near Bay City represent a net increase of over 9,294 tons annually of ozone and smog-forming pollutants and 26.4 millions of tons annually of new carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas that causes global warming,” said Neil Carman, chemist and Clean Air Program Director with the Sierra Club. “We don’t need these polluting plants to meet our energy needs in Texas and, if built, they jeopardize attainment of clean air standards in Central and South Texas cities.  Instead, we need to build the growing clean energy economy through renewable power and energy efficiency.”

Sierra Club is contesting all three air pollution permits, which have been referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Sierra Club object to lack of science in White Stallion Permit Application

Earlier this year, EPA’s Region VI raised concerns about the Bay City power plant’s proposal, stating that the proposed White Stallion power plant near Bay City would be “in direct conflict with control strategies developed to reduce ozone in the nearby Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Nonattainment Area.” 

The current National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone is expected to be strengthened this October and the new, more protective standard could play a role in decisions about the applied-for coal plant permits.  NAAQ standards are established to protect public health from unsafe levels of air pollution for a few criteria pollutants such as ozone.  If local governments fail to meet the standards, the Federal government may withhold federal highway funds. 

Following their own scientists’ recommendations and the filing of a major lawsuit by Sierra Club and other groups, the EPA's current ozone review may revise a Bush EPA decision in 2008 to set a new ozone standard at 75 parts per billion (ppb).  The Obama Administration's EPA is currently considering adopting an even more protective ozone standard of 70 ppb.  At either level, the new ozone standard could play a role in decisions regarding the proposed Texas power plant permits.

“The Federal Air Quality standard for ozone should be even more protective of the public health,” said Dr. Neil Carman with Sierra Club.  “If the Obama Administration acts in mid-October to adopt a new ozone standard of 70 ppb, as is quite possible, Austin and San Antonio would automatically soon be thrown into ozone nonattainment and local officials would urgently be looking for ways to cut every single ton of nitrogen oxides inside and outside the nonattainment areas.  The high nitrogen oxide pollution rates from these proposed new power plants would severely threaten the ability of Austin and San Antonio to meet the new ozone standard of 70 ppb.  They should not be built.”

Attorneys with Environmental Integrity Project are representing Sierra Club in the following contested case hearings:

Schedule of Contested Case Proceedings in South Texas coal/coke power plant cases

The State Office of Administrative Hearings will hold trial-like contested case hearings on the following dates:

Proposed Power Plant Air Permit	Contested Case Hearing begins
Coleto Creek	October 13, 2009
Las Brisas	November 2, 2009
White Stallion	February 2010

The EPA is expected to announce its decision on whether or not to revise the Bush Administration’s proposed 75 ppb National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone.

Ozone and Carbon Dioxide from Proposed Coastal Coal/Pet Coke Plants

Proposed PLANT	Coastal Bend LOCATION	Projected OZONE Emissions *	Projected CARBON DIOXIDE Emissions
Las Brisas #1-4	Corpus Christi, Tx	3,776 tons	10.4 million tons
Coleto Creek #2	Near Goliad	1,461 tons	~10 million tons
White Stallion #1-4	Near Bay City	4,048 tons	6 million tons
	TOTALS	9,285 tons	26.4million tons/year

* Emissions figures at startup of new coal plants are 4 – 5 times greater for 24 hours, which would further worsen regional ozone pollution.