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Letters to the Editor
February 15, 2010
to look at impact
from coal plant
Dear editor,
I read with interest the report on the comments of candidates for office in Matagorda County reported in the Sunday issue of the Tribune, Feb. 7.
As reported in the Tribune, all of the candidates except one focused on jobs for the county that would be provided by the proposed White Stallion coal-fired power plant.
Unfortunately, no specifics were reported. Advertisements of the White Stallion Energy Center in the local newspapers project 1,500 temporary jobs during construction and 150 permanent jobs. These are projections and not real numbers.
An issue not addressed by the candidates is the source of the workers. How many will actually be from Bay City or the county?
It is implicit in their comments that many of the jobs will go to local residents.
However, this may not be the case. All one needs to do is watch the flow of traffic into the county on highways 71 and 35 in the morning and it is easy to assume that many workers at facilities in the county (STNP, Lyondell, OXEA-Celanese) are coming in from out of county.
If this is so, they are earning their income here and essentially spending it out of the county.
It is important for the candidates to address this issue and report statistics for the percentages of workers at the major local facilities who live outside the county.
It is likewise important that the candidates address issues beyond jobs and tax revenue.
They need to consider the impact of the proposed coal-fired power plant on the health of the county population and environment, on the water supply for local rice farmers who will be in competition for a limited resource with the coal-fired plant (as noted in a separate article in the Sunday Tribune), on the discharge of waste water from the proposed plant, on the proposed modifications to the Colorado River to accommodate increased barge traffic, on increased flow of barge traffic in the intracoastal canal and river, on the fishing and tourism industries, on local wildlife, and so on.
These are issues that the candidates need to address in an objective manner.
Yet, according to the report in the Sunday Tribune, no significant mention was made of these.
Yours sincerely,
Robert M. Malina
Bay City
Local residents should oppose
White Stallion
Dear editor,
When I hear my friends talk about the White Stallion coal plant, including the agricultural, wildlife and tourism communities, I don't hear them say they are against industrial development.
I hear them say they are just against this particular industrial development.
We are excited about the prospect of new industry: we just don't want a dirty coal plant.
I sat in on one of the TCEQ hearings regarding permitting for White Stallion several months ago at the Bay City Civic Center.
I heard and saw White Stallion's data.
I've also seen and heard other data that covers many issues not being addressed in White Stallion's permit.
I guess it all depends on which data you choose to look at, and which you choose to ignore.
It also depends on whom you choose to believe.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are against the White Stallion permit.
Shouldn't that tell us something?
I urge you to go to www.nocoalcoalition.org to see copies of these agencies' letters to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers outlining their reasons against permitting White Stallion.
Once you see these letters, you will understand that what bothers me most is that all sides of the coal plant issue have not been fully examined.
How will the Colorado River be affected by the additional, non-stop barge traffic?
Will there be enough water to sustain the agricultural communities in times of drought?
How will White Stallion stop the toxic run-off from entering the river and bays?
How will this affect the fishing and shrimping industries?
Why do you think more coal companies are trying to move to Texas instead of other states?
Could it be that it's because Texas has the least restrictive air quality standards in the country?
Other states have already made the decision that the negatives of a coal plant far outweigh the benefits to their communities.
It's not just the farmers who are questioning the White Stallion project.
It's also local business people, because all of us have an economic stake in this.
I know White Stallion is promising to bring in 150 jobs - who knows how many will go to locals - yet how many jobs will we lose because of the damage to our environment?
This is why more and more citizens are stepping up and questioning the logic of a coal plant coming to our county.
Landowners, doctors, teachers, policemen, mothers and fathers are concerned about the air their kids breathe, the water we drink, the river we fish and ski, as well as the economic effects of this proposed plant.
Once this plant is built and operating, it will be too late for us to do anything.
I hope you will take a stand on this issue and contact local leaders and voice your opposition to White Stallion.
Coal plant construction has been most successfully blocked across the U.S. when community members have found the courage to speak out.
We can't keep expecting "somebody else" to stop this plant. It's up to us to stop it. Sincerely,
Allison Sliva
Private Citizen, born and raised in Matagorda County, and currently living and working in Matagorda County.
Finding common
ground with coal
plant on its plans
Dear editor,
People in Bay City are hurting. We need jobs, we need visions and, yes, we need cheap energy.
Neither the city nor the citizens and businesses of this county can exist on air and rice alone.
It is true - coal (as proposed by White Stallion) is not desirable in our county.
However, we should work with "White Stallion" to find common ground in regard to the construction of their new power plant.
It is possible to recapture Co2, to clean the exhaust fumes to the point that there are almost no dangerous substances left.
It is, in my humble opinion, not smart to "just say no."
Let's sit down and let's say "maybe."
Give them the chance to modify their plans and let's welcome a new generation of modern, "green" power plants that will bring prosperity without unnecessary pollution.
Michaela Merz
Bay City
Enjoying series on
Tribune's "Dinner with Candidates"
Dear editor,
Dear Tribune, I have enjoyed reading the "Dinner with the Candidates" series, especially the recent one with Aaron and Annette Green.
The articles really personalize the individuals and you feel like you're right there in the kitchen with them.
So good to read about my fellow BCHS classmate and grad Aaron and fellow former co-worker Annette.
Aaron, I think I can smell those ribs up here in Round Rock!
Bobby Seiferman
Round Rock, Texas
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