Complete list of press releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Kathryn Phillips, 916-893-8494, kphillips@environmentaldefense.org

(Sacramento, CA – March 6, 2007) – Today, leading national conservation group Environmental Defense urged the state legislature to incorporate environmental performance into transportation projects funded by bond money. At a Senate Transportation and Housing Committee hearing, Kathryn Phillips, an Environmental Defense air pollution and transportation analyst said “The $20 billion transportation bond campaign promised Californians that they would get long-term congestion relief and better air quality. But unless the legislature steps in and gives specific guidance to the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) and the California Transportation Committee (CTC) about how to prioritize projects, we’re going to get the same old thing: more miles of lanes that quickly clog, and no real, long-term environmental benefits.”

“Projects that deliver long-term congestion relief and cleaner air should be put at the top of the list for bond funding. To do anything less than this breaks faith with voters,” Phillips said. The most important first step is for the legislature to prioritize bond applications according to their ability to deliver long-term, lasting congestion and emissions relief. Applicants must be required to quantify and demonstrate real results, and funding should flow to the projects with the best promise to improve quality of life and the environment in California for the long term.

This would require that applicants for new bond money take cost-effective actions to quantify and commit that new road building will be accompanied with real, long-term congestion and air quality relief. Solutions that can help road builders achieve congestion relief in high-volume corridors include, for example: building in performance targets for clean air, climate and congestion relief — and holding transportation agencies accountable to achieving them; integrating quick incident response and information-feedback technologies into the road network; funding innovative, fast and cost-effective transit options together with new road projects, so that infrastructure for ideas like bus-rapid-transit is built into the system up front; investing in cleaner rail in major freight corridors, to help reduce truck traffic; and creating more consumer incentives like HOV and HOT lanes and pay-as-you-drive insurance that support drivers making choices that favor the environment . Where tolls are used, they should vary according to congestion levels, to encourage efficient use of roadways and pollution reduction. Computer modeling now allows applicants to quantify the environmental and mobility benefits of the performance measures they adopt – and allows these measures to be part of solving climate and air quality in California.

Recently CalTrans head Will Kempton testified before an Assembly joint committee hearing on transportation bond spending that traffic accidents and other incidents were responsible for about a third of the congestion on roadways. “That’s a statistic that suggests that before anyone gets money for widening a freeway, they need to prove that they have put into place the mechanisms to make sure accidents and other incidents get taken care of fast,” said Phillips. “This is just one example of a measure the CTC and CalTrans should be requiring applicants to demonstrate if they want to be put at the top of the list for new road funding.”

On Wednesday, March 7, Phillips will testify before a joint hearing of the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee and the Environmental Quality Committee about how the state can ensure that only less-polluting construction equipment is used on projects funded by the bonds. That hearing begins at 1:30 p.m in Room 4203 in the Capitol Building.

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Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. www.environmentaldefense.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Janea Scott 310-728-9469
Diane Slaine-Siegel 212-616-1267

(New York, New York – March 2, 2007) - Today, Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp will join EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson at EPA’s announcement of proposed new emission standards for diesel trains and ships. The emission standards would apply to the nation’s fleet of diesel locomotive engines, tugs, barges, ferries and recreational marine engines. Diesel exhaust contains toxic chemicals that together with diesel particulate matter pose a cancer risk greater than that of any other air pollutant. The proposed standards, when adopted and fully phased in, would reduce particulate pollution and smog-forming oxides of nitrogen from each engine by 90 percent. Today’s announcement is scheduled for 11am ET at Port Elizabeth, New Jersey (Berth 23, Elizabeth Marine Terminal).

“EPA is clearly on the right track in proposing to address the dangerous diesel exhaust from trains and ships,” said Fred Krupp, Environmental Defense President. “We look forward to working with EPA and the states to carry this important work across the finish line by securing final clean air standards for high-polluting trains and ships.”

The proposed rule provides for clean air standards comparable to those that EPA has adopted for large diesel trucks and buses, and for construction, mining and agricultural equipment. The proposed standards will be achieved through the combination of low sulfur diesel fuel and advanced engine systems.

The use of trains for freight transport has doubled in the last 35 years. Last year, locomotives released over 900,000 tons of smog-forming oxides of nitrogen and 32,000 tons of particulate pollution. Nationally, commercial shipping is responsible for about 1 million tons of smog-forming oxides of nitrogen each year. And each year commercial marine vessels release some 40,000 tons of particulate pollution and 160,000 tons of sulfur dioxide across the United States. When finalized, EPA’s proposal to clean up the nation’s fleet of commercial ships and locomotives could help clear the way for extensive human health and environmental benefits by substantially lowering particulate pollution and smog-forming contaminants.

Another important feature of EPA’s proposal would apply clean up standards to rebuilt or remanufactured locomotive engines. Environmental Defense recommends EPA apply the same sensible policy approach to ensure rebuilt marine engines also meet updated emission standards.

Environmental Defense has documented the extensive air pollution from both ships and locomotives. Learn how commercial marine shipping is polluting our air here and learn more about locomotive pollution here. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Sharyn Stein, (202) 572-3396, sstein@environmentaldefense.org
Meg Little, 202-582-3387, mlittle@environmentaldefense.org

(Washington, D.C – February 28, 2007) - Three of the country’s leading environmental groups are throwing their support behind the introduction today of a bill that creates tax incentives to conserve endangered species that live on private lands. The Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2007 (S.700) is sponsored by Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), Finance Committee Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA), Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) and 12 other Senate co-sponsors. The bill’s prospects for action are good since the Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over tax legislation and several members of the committee are co-sponsors. Environmental leaders joined the Senators at a Capitol Hill news conference to unveil the measure.

“Most of the rare species in America live on privately-owned lands; very few exist only in our national parks or forests,” said Michael Bean, senior attorney for Environmental Defense. “Conserving those species often requires active habitat management that is costly for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. For too long now, we’ve been relying exclusively on regulations that had the unintended consequence of pitting landowners and environmentalists against each other. This bipartisan bill would use tax incentives to help us reach our mutual goals of conserving wildlife. This is an innovative approach that will help us make real progress for our endangered species.”

Bean spoke at the news conference on behalf of Environmental Defense, the National Wildlife Federation, and Defenders of Wildlife. The three conservation groups are all backing the bill, which would provide $400 million annually in new tax credits, plus additional deductions and exclusions, for private landowners who take steps to help any of 1200 endangered or threatened species on the properties they own. The measure would make it financially possible for citizens who want to be good stewards of their land to help conserve the rare plants and animals that live there.

Co-sponsors for the Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2007 include Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Wayne Allard (R-CO), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Robert Bennett (R-UT), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Larry Craig (R-ID), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Sam Brownback (R-KS).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:
Sharyn Stein, (202) 572-3396, sstein@environmentaldefense.org

(New Orleans, LA - February 26, 2007) – Leading national conservation group Environmental Defense praised Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today for his part in a special hearing to restore the Gulf Coast wetlands after Hurricane Katrina.

Whitehouse and half a dozen other U.S. Senators took part in the New Orleans hearing on comprehensive approaches to storm protection in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A main focus of the hearing was the need to restore Louisiana’s disappearing natural hurricane buffer – its coastal wetlands.

“We need to do a better job of protecting the ecosystems that protect us, and that’s true in Louisiana as well as Rhode Island,” said Paul Harrison, Coastal Louisiana Project Manager at Environmental Defense. “Senator Whitehouse has a long history of protecting wetlands and promoting conservation on Narragansett Bay. His experience will be a great asset as we rebuild New Orleans.”

Louisiana was once ringed by cypress forests and marsh lands. For centuries, the vegetation in the bayous helped protect the area from the vicious winds and storm surge of the annual hurricane season. But in the past century we’ve lost more than 2,000 square miles of trees and wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico. The land loss is primarily man-made, a result of poorly planned levees and shipping canals that shut off Mississippi River freshwater and sediment flow to the wetlands and allowed saltwater to flow in and poison the area.

“We need better levees, but we can’t rely on levees alone. We’ll never be able to wall off Louisiana from the sea; it would be too expensive, too technically difficult, and destructive to the remaining wetlands. Our main focus should be restoring our natural storm barriers, and today’s hearing is a good step in the right direction.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Sharyn Stein, (202) 572-3396, sstein@environmentaldefense.org

(New Orleans, LA - February 26, 2007) – As a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing gets underway in New Orleans today, leading national conservation group Environmental Defense is praising lawmakers for making coastal restoration a focus of the discussion.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), the Committee Chair, is conducting the field hearing at the Louisiana Supreme Court Building. Boxer and half a dozen other U.S. Senators will hear testimony from experts about comprehensive approaches to storm protection in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“We are thrilled that Senator Boxer is looking into the problems facing Louisiana’s natural hurricane buffer — its coastal wetlands,” said Paul Harrison, Coastal Louisiana Project Manager at Environmental Defense. “We need better levees, but we’ll never be able to wall off Louisiana from the sea; it would be too expensive, too technically difficult, and destructive to the remaining wetlands. Instead of relying on levees alone, we need to protect the ecosystems that protect us.”

Louisiana was once ringed by cypress forests and marsh lands. For centuries, the vegetation in the bayous helped protect the area from the vicious winds and storm surge of the annual hurricane season. But in the past century we’ve lost more than 2,000 square miles of trees and wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico. The land loss is primarily man-made, a result of poorly planned levees and shipping canals that shut off Mississippi River freshwater and sediment flow to the wetlands and allowed saltwater to flow in and poison the area.

The Louisiana Congressional delegation has been working for years to draw attention to state’s disappearing wetlands.

“Senator Landrieu has always pointed out that levees are designed to be the last line of defense against hurricanes, and the coastal wetlands are supposed to be the first line of defense,” said Harrison. “She encouraged Senator Boxer to hold this hearing in New Orleans, with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. Senator Vitter is also a leader on the issue, for example making sure that the Army Corps of Engineers is nimble and effective in using funding provided to close the destructive Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. Today’s hearing will help bring their message to the rest of the country. Now, with Senator Boxer’s leadership, we hope we can make real progress on repairing the natural storm barriers along Louisiana’s coast.”

Challenges for Congress include making sure that wetlands restoration priorities are funded, that planners strike the best balance between levees and wetlands, and that a reformed Army Corps prioritizes and expedites critical public safety and environmental issues like restoring the Louisiana wetlands.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tony Kreindler, 202-572-3378, 202-210-5791 (Cell)

(Washington – February 26, 2006) Environmental Defense today praised the commitment of five governors to take the lead in fighting climate change by setting a regional cap on greenhouse gas emissions in Western states. The agreement is the latest in a series of major steps by states and business leaders to get emissions caps in place absent federal action.

The governors’ agreement follows efforts already underway in the Northeast, and it comes close on the heels of a landmark deal in Texas to cap emissions from the state’s largest electrical utility.

“State leaders know the dangers of climate change are too big to ignore, and business leaders know that the incentives to act are too big to pass up,” said Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp. “This agreement is yet another sign that the momentum for a hard cap on emissions is growing from coast to coast.”

The agreement signed today commits California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington to a regional target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It mirrors ongoing action in New England and the mid-Atlantic, where states are developing an emissions cap-and-trade system through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

In Texas, Environmental Defense today announced that the Texas Pacific Group’s buyout of the state’s largest electric utility will contain several key environmental commitments, including support for a national emissions cap and the goals of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a coalition of leading U.S. companies and environmental groups that is urging Congress to take quick action on national cap-and-trade legislation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Amy Starling, Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation, (205) 803-8186, amy.starling@ipacc.com
Pilar Page, PHH Arval, (410) 771-2733, pilar.page@phh.com
Melanie Janin, Environmental Defense, (202) 572-3240, mjanin@environmentaldefense.org

(Birmingham, AL - Feb. 26, 2007) – Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation (NASDAQ: IPCC), a leading nonstandard personal auto insurer, announced today that it has joined the fight against transportation-related global warming. Infinity is the latest participant in the innovative PHH GreenFleet program that was developed jointly by PHH Arval and Environmental Defense in an effort to reduce operating costs, improve efficiency, and cut greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle fleets.

This year, Infinity replaced the approximately 400 sport utility vehicles in its fleet with more fuel efficient Jeep Compasses. By making this change, Infinity expects to reduce annual fleet operating costs by approximately 10%, improve fuel economy by 25%, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 16%. More than half of these vehicles will be located in California, Infinity’s largest market and home to Governor Schwarzenegger’s statewide initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Infinity’s participation in PHH GreenFleet is only one part of our company’s overall greening initiative,” said Jim Gober, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “As a leading auto insurance company, we are committed to providing the highest quality service while limiting our impact on the planet. Working with PHH Arval and Environmental Defense has helped us meet this goal.”

Over the past few months, Infinity enrolled in the PHH GreenFleet program, developed a greenhouse gas baseline, and replaced its entire fleet with more fuel efficient vehicles. In addition, Infinity purchased greenhouse gas offsets for the remaining emissions and made its entire fleet “climate neutral” before the new vehicles hit the road in 2007. The offsets were purchased from a project in Chino, CA that reduces methane emissions from local dairy farms.

“The PHH GreenFleet program is generating a tremendous amount of interest from our corporate clients who are concerned about their environmental impact,” said George Kilroy, President and Chief Executive Officer of PHH Arval. “Infinity’s commitment to the program has surpassed expectations – by going entirely ‘climate neutral.’ Infinity has made a statement about who they are and what they care about. At PHH Arval, our goal is to encourage all vehicle fleets – not just our own clients – to consider taking measures to reduce emissions.”

The PHH GreenFleet program is designed to help companies cost-effectively measure, reduce, and offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Participation includes: in-depth analysis and recommendations to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; quarterly measurement and reporting of emissions; and resources to offset remaining emissions.

“The trend towards ‘green fleets’ is a joint victory for the environment and for corporate America,” said Environmental Defense Project Manager Tom Murray. “Corporate fleets operate over nine million cars and light trucks in the United States – consuming a great deal of fossil fuels and generating significant global warming pollution. Smart companies eager to curb global warming while improving the bottom line now have a model they can implement to help them achieve these goals.”

(Austin – February 26, 2007) As part of their plan to purchase Texas electricity provider TXU Corp, Texas Pacific Group and KKR have agreed to terminate the applications for eight of TXU’s 11 proposed coal plants in Texas and will adopt a platform of initiatives that will significantly reduce the company’s environmental impact in Texas. Environmental Defense praised the new owners’ pledge to rebuild TXU as a leader in the clean energy economy. Texas Pacific Group and KKR developed the company’s environmental agenda with Environmental Defense’s regional director Jim Marston in the week leading up to the announcement.

“This is a watershed moment in America’s fight against global warming,” said Environmental Defense president Fred Krupp. “Environmental Defense commends Texas Pacific Group and KKR not only for dropping TXU’s applications for eight proposed coal plants in Texas, but also for the many other commitments they have made to reduce air pollution and global warming emissions, including their support of a mandatory federal cap on carbon emissions.”

The collaboration with Texas Pacific Group and KKR echoes partnerships between Environmental Defense and other corporations, such as McDonalds, FedEx, DuPont and Wal-Mart, that promoted economic growth and environmental stewardship.

“Smart companies are realizing that green business is good business,” Krupp said. “This announcement and these pledges show that even an energy company in Texas understands that global warming is real and that businesses must be part of the solution. Texas Pacific Group and KKR’s support of a federal cap on carbon emissions illustrates the undeniable momentum behind a call for a national policy. We saw it with California’s new carbon cap and the announcement by the ten USCAP companies, and now we’re seeing that momentum take hold in Texas. “

As part of the negotiations leading up to the announcement, Environmental Defense agreed to settle its federal lawsuit against TXU (regarding the Sandow unit) in exchange for an aggressive environmental pledge from Texas Pacific Group and KKR. The new company will continue to pursue permits for the Sandow unit and the two Oak Grove units.

In addition to withdrawing permit applications for eight proposed coal plants, Texas Pacific Group and KKR have agreed to:

• Terminate TXU’s previous plans to expand coal operations in other states
• Endorse the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (US CAP) platform, including the call for a mandatory federal cap on carbon emissions
• Reduce the company’s carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020
• Promote Demand-Side Management programs to reduce energy consumption
• Double the company’s expenditures on energy efficiency measures
• Double the company’s purchase of wind power
• Honor TXU’s agreement to reduce criteria pollutants in Texas by 20% (TXU’s 20% pledge was contingent upon approval of all 11 plants)
• Establish a Sustainable Energy Advisory Board, on which Environmental Defense regional director Jim Marston will serve

“We look forward to working closely with the new company as a member of its Sustainable Energy Advisory Committee and to settling our federal lawsuit against TXU,” Marston said. “We opposed the proposed TXU plants because of the negative impact they would have on local air quality and on America’s fight against global warming. We hope that our conflict with TXU over the last year can transform into a productive relationship in the months ahead.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jim Marston, Environmental Defense, (512) 289-5293
Amy Hardberger, Environmental Defense, (512) 691-3437

(Austin, TX – February 21, 2007) - The following statement can be attributed to Jim Marston, regional director of Environmental Defense:

“We commend the administrative judges for applying the brakes to the TXU steamroller. We obviously think TXU’s building blitz should be delayed permanently, but we’re happy to have 120 extra days to line up our expert witnesses and prepare our briefs. The delay also shows that even the State Office of Administrative Hearings is not comfortable with a compressed schedule. It’s an enormous case, and environmental watchdog groups like ours will put the four months to good use.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(Austin – February 16, 2007) In response to a February 13 letter from TXU’s public relations office requesting that Environmental Defense pull from the air a new television spot detailing the flaws of TXU’s 11 proposed coal-fired power plants, Environmental Defense today sent the energy company a detailed response and an invitation to CEO John Wilder to a live and public debate.

“Our ad is accurate and fact-based and it’s staying on the air,” said Environmental Defense regional director Jim Marston. “The ad simply restates the many flaws of TXU’s proposed coal plan that we have voiced for months. But TXU sent its letter to the press before I even received it, so we felt compelled to set the record straight.”

Marston invited TXU CEO Wilder to a live public debate on this issue.

“Dueling letters don’t help the public understand this issue,” Marston said. “Texans cares a great deal about their health and how TXU’s plants will impact them. We think a pubic debate would be a much more productive way for each side to get its points across. We hope Mr. Wilder will find time in his schedule to accept our invitation.”

Click here to download a PDF document containing the Environmental Defense letter and the TXU letter (http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/tx/TXU_ED_Letters_both.pdf). Visit http://www.stopTXU.com to see the television ad.

The ad, titled “Profits and Pollution” began running in the Waco market last week and in Dallas this week. Additional buys in other Texas markets are planned. Viewers are directed to www.stopTXU.com and urged to ask their state legislator to slow down TXU’s fast-tracked coal plan.

“TXU’s TV ads are full of fear and fiction,” Marston said. “Our ad sticks to the facts, and the fact of the matter is that TXU’s dirty coal plants will make a ring of fire around McLennan County and spew new pollution up to Dallas and down to Austin.”

(California - February 7, 2007) – Environmental Defense, a group that has worked to protect and restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the San Francisco Bay for more than thirty years, is available to comment on a new Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report on managing the Bay-Delta released on February 7th at 10:30 a.m.

“The PPIC report highlights that the problems of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are severe and should command everyone’s attention. We at Environmental Defense agree with that assessment,” said Tom Graff, California regional director of Environmental Defense. “However we want to make sure there is not a rush to judgment about sending more fresh water to the south without clear environmental and regulatory safeguards being met.”

In 2005 Environmental Defense undertook an analysis of water operations data in the Bay-Delta and concluded that the estuary ecosystem has been short-changed by approximately 420,000–460,000 acre-feet annually during the years of 2002 through 2005, the same period in which fish species like the Delta smelt were in dramatic decline. The new PPIC report chalks the fishery declines up to a more “complex set of factors” and did not outline a clear plan for how vital fresh water flows would be managed in the system. The Environmental Defense analysis, “Finding the Water: New Water Supply Opportunities to Revive the San Francisco Bay-Delta Ecosystem,” is available for download at: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/go/findingthewater.

The following Environmental Defense water experts are available to give comment on the Public Policy Institute of California report by calling 510.658.8008:

Tom Graff: played a central role in Congress’ passage of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992, in the signing of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Accord of 1994 and in the formation of the federal Bay-Delta Act of 1996.

Spreck Rosekrans: specializes in hydrologic modeling and operations analysis to improve the timing and volume of flows to ecosystems in California like the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the San Francisco Bay watershed.

Ann Hayden: researches water operations and policies throughout the state and works to ensure the adequate protection of aquatic resources and habitats. Ann is involved in the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan that seeks to recover imperiled wildlife while considering the future of Delta water operations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(Austin, TX – February 7, 2007) - The City of Austin today announced a groundbreaking initiative to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The plan represents the most aggressive GHG reduction plan of any city in America.

The following statement can be attributed to Jim Marston, regional director of Environmental Defense.

“The City of Austin is already a leader in clean energy and environmental stewardship. This plan launches the city to the forefront of the fight against global warming. This isn’t just the strongest plan in Texas, it’s the strongest plan in the country. This is the kind of leadership that makes us proud to live in Austin and hopeful that Texans will accept responsibility for the role we should play in solving this global crisis.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(Austin, TX – February 7, 2007) - Environmental Defense will begin airing a TV ad in the Waco market today that challenges TXU’s plans to build 11 old-style coal-fired power plants throughout Central and Northeast Texas.

View the ads here.

The ad, titled “Profits and Pollution” will run in the Waco market for two weeks. It will begin airing in Dallas early next week. An additional buy in Waco and buys in other Texas markets are planned. Viewers are directed to www.stopTXU.com and urged to ask their state legislator to slow down TXU’s fast-tracked coal plan.

“TXU’s TV ads are full of fear and fiction,” said Environmental Defense regional director Jim Marston. “Our ad sticks to the facts, and the fact of the matter is that TXU’s dirty coal plants will make a ring of fire around McLennan County and spew new pollution up to Dallas and down to Austin.”

TXU’s recent ad campaign, known as “Monsters,” implies that Texas will suffer blackouts if its dirty-coal plants are not built. The truth is that TXU’s projections show the company cannot meet the electricity short-fall it says the state will face in the summers of 2008 and 2009. A recent analysis by Environmental Defense shows that implementing increased efficiency measures would resolve any potential energy shortfall more quickly and would be cheaper and cleaner than the construction of 50-year coal plants. Such efficiency measures would allow Texas legislators more than enough time to devise a more thoughtful, responsible energy plan for the state.

“Texas doesn’t have to rush into this decision,” Marston said. “The threat of blackouts is no more real than monsters under a child’s bed. Our approach is less dramatic, but much more promising than TXU’s depiction of monsters and chaos.”

The ad hit the airwaves the same day that another TXU myth was debunked. TXU has proudly touted its so-called “voluntary 20% reduction” of regulated pollutants as proof of its environmental stewardship. But an Environmental Defense analysis illustrates that federal clean air laws mandate much larger cuts of two important pollutants, sulfur dioxide and mercury, than TXU’s 20% pledge will deliver.

“TXU’s 20% reduction pledge isn’t voluntary and it won’t meet the federal mandate,” Marston said. “Moreover, the company will more than double its emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary man-made greenhouse gas, from 55 million tons a year to 133 million tons a year. Read Environmental Defense’s “20% Pledge” fact sheet [pdf].