Sparkle, sparkle

By Armando Villarreal

April 2011

Governor Perry’s boys on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved, last January, the construction of a petroleum coke during plant by the Nueces River. The plant would produce electricity and sell it outside Corpus Christi.

Rick Perry's boys gave the green light on the construction, in essence, of a coal burning plant. They shooed away objections posed by the EPA, administrative court judges, the Texas Medical Association, and scientists. They did so even knowing that it meant EPA denial of federal money which Corpus Christi depends. No matter, the boys are in place to favor the construction of a plant sardonically named “Las Brisas.”

 

So how does the word Brisa, which is found in poetry and song, with its images of a coastal breeze— How can a petroleum coke burning, smoke puffing, clunky plant be called “Las Brisas?”

Jobs are placed up front by those who want the plant. Lets look at these jobs. Temporary construction jobs could reach 2,600, half of which would come from outside Corpus Christi. Construction might take two years, and once built permanent jobs are said to be around eighty. And most of these permanent jobs would come from, outside Corpus. Then there is the abatement deal, the pros and cons on tax base share, and all those serious health problems all over “Las Brisas.” 

Not long ago Corpus Christi promoted itself as the  “Sparkling City by the Sea”. I don’t see that bannered around much anymore.

What keeps Corpus Christi down having to accept old smoking technology. When will the crucible of the colonial hacienda set finally give way to the 21st century? The new economic forces are in communications and clean energy—and Corpus wants to do what!? Build a coal burning plant, which would use some 100 million gallons of city water every week, and dump the waste in the Nueces River. 

Imagine No Fishing signs along the brackish waters of the Nueces River, along the back bays. Imagine signs warning about entering the water. What about bill boards in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas inviting to come experience the “Sparkling City by the Sea.” 

Petroleum Coke is what is left after cooking everything out of crude oil. What is left is known by its nickname, pet-coke— it’s coal. 

Imagine visitors being welcomed by a coal burning plant on the Nueces River in sight of downtown Corpus Christi. Sparkle, sparkle.

 

Lets stop this none sense. We don’t need no stinking Plant! 

Go vote for city candidates who oppose the construction of “Las Brisas!”