Statement: TXU State Hearing Moves Citizens One Step Closer to the Courthouse

For Immediate Release

Contact: Colin Rowan, Environmental Defense, (512) 691-3416 or Jim Marston (512-289-5293)

(Austin – December 14, 2006) At a preliminary hearing on seven of TXU’s proposed coal plants today in Austin, the State Office of Administrative Hearings granted party status to a broad coalition of cities and other local governments that oppose then proposed plants. On other issues, they decided to implement Governor Rick Perry’s order to limit public and scientific review and scrutiny of the millions of tons of additional pollution that will be created by these plants, and ignore cleaner and cost-effective alternatives.

“Today showed that we have no alternative than to seek justice at the courthouse,” said Environmental Defense regional director Jim Marston. “Governor Perry has stacked the political deck in favor of TXU’s dirty plants and against the health of Texans. The good news is that there are talented and fair-minded judges in Travis Country to whom we will be presenting our case in the coming days.”