22 Feb Your Doctor Says, “Kick The Dirty Coal Habit!” – Sign PSR’s Petiton To Retire Austin’s Coal Plant
The Fight Over Fayette Power Plant
Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is a leader in the fight for a clean and healthy environment – and for closing Austin's Fayette Power Plant (FPP) – replacing it with renewable energy sources. Their petition asks you to join in this effort.
Here is some information from the February 2014 PSR newletter by Texas PSR Director, Chris Masey:
FPP ranks as one of the top 50 plants in U.S. in mercury emissions (2010), and is one of the top 100 plants in the U.S. for CO2 emissions (2011) – actually now 5th in Texas in CO2 emissions. The City of Austin and LCRA control this regional point source of toxic emissions. Any decrease in point source air pollution could produce immediate and significant health benefits for children, seniors, and people with chronic respiratory problems throughout the region.
Texas PSR feels strongly that if the true costs to the environment and to public health are included in the cost assessments, that the costs to close the plant will become more manageable.
Add public health to the operating costs!
Every year, tons of emissions including, particulate matter, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides (NOX), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Mercury, some heavy metals, benzene, dioxins, asbestos, toluene, and a host of other toxic pollutants are released into our air.
In fact, the air quality in many Texas cities, including Austin, is directly affected by local and regional power plants emissions when NOX and VOC emissions combine with sunlight to form ground level ozone, or smog, which itself is associated with asthma attacks, new onset asthma, heart attacks and angina pain.
There are a variety of public health costs that can be associated with power plant emissions such as:
an increase in mortality rates
increased hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses including:
asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD)
chronic bronchitis
heart attacks
asthma attacks
lost school/work days
We believe that all Central Texans deserve to breathe clean air.
Texas PSR has already taken a strong position on the Fayette Power Plant in asking the Austin City Council to: "acknowledge responsibility as part owner of the Fayette Power Plant (FPP) and exercise its ownership control by phasing out Austin’s use of FPP no later than December 31, 2018."
Look for Texas PSR's editorial on including the public health costs in the operating costs of this legacy coal-fired power plant later this month.
To get more involved, you can attend the Austin Energy Generation Plan public briefings. Public testimony will not be taken but you will be able to discuss issues with AE officials informally. Then following the briefings, make your views known to the Austin City Council, Electric Utility Commission and Austin Energy.
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 – 10 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 – 6 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014 – 1 to 3 p.m.
All sessions will take place in the first floor assembly room at Austin Energy Headquarters, Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas 78704.
YOU MUST RSVP for the meeting you plan to attend, as space is limited. Reply to:genplan2014@austinenergy.com
To learn more about the health risks from coal, watch this 2013 video presentation, Coal, Health and You by Dr. Elliot Trester at Austin's Highland Park Baptist Church. It is a presentation of the Austin Interfaith Environmental Network and explores the health hazards of burning coal. They include neurological diseases and mental handicaps, respiratory disease and cardio-vascular diseases. Dr. Trester is a respected physician in Austin, TX and a long time member of Physicians for Social Responsibility.
No Comments