Endorsing Pollution: The Paradox Of Jobs Versus Environment

While the majority of the state seems opposed to the construction of new pollution-belching coal-fired power plants across Texas by utility giant TXU, it seems that some are actually openly endorsing the proposals:

In June, the Titus Regional Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant endorsed plans by the utility TXU Corp. to build a coal-fired unit at its power plant on nearby Lake Monticello.

The plant construction and operation would add thousands of jobs. In rural northeastern Texas, where residents typically make less money than people living in the rest of the state, new jobs are an economic boon.

Now, it appears as if the debate over the coal power plants has become not only an environmental debate but also an economic one.

While good paying jobs in economically depressed regions is no “hard sell,” because everyone is aware of the impact such jobs would have, the fact remains is that the environmental impact of the plants far outweighs the economic impact.

Furthermore, no one is asking TXU not to build power plants. The goal is to get TXU to build its plants using clean coal technologies that aren’t as filthy as the proposed plants would be and also make some investments in alternative energy so that coal does not remain the “end all” source of supplying the state’s retail electric market.

Cleaner burning or alternative energy plants would put just as many jobs into these areas with less environmental impact.

Perhaps those screaming about “economic impact” and begging for these jobs should start attaching the words “clean coal technologies” to their alms baskets.

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