Loading...
R-06-12-07-11D1 - 12/7/2006and RESOLUTION NO. R-06-12-07-11 D 1 WHEREAS, the citizens of Round Rock value clean and healthy air; WHEREAS, the City of Round Rock is dedicated to providing a clean environment for its citizens; and WHEREAS, in 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopted a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone (the 8 - hour ozone standard), which provides for greater protection of public health and welfare than the pre-existing standard; and WHEREAS, ozone levels in the Austin -Round Rock area exceed the EPA's 8 -hour ozone standard for each of the three-year averaging periods ending in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004; and WHEREAS, experts believe that the ozone levels experienced in the Austin -Round Rock area have adverse health effects, especially on children and individuals with respiratory problems; and WHEREAS, as a proactive response to the region's elevated ozone levels, the 5 -county Austin -Round Rock region entered into an Early Action Compact with the EPA, the purpose of which is to develop and implement emission control strategies sufficient to achieve the federal 8 -hour ozone standard by 2007 and maintain it through 2012; and WHEREAS, the City of Round Rock is a signatory to the Early Action Compact (EAC); and WHEREAS, under the EAC, the Austin -Round Rock area adopted and is implementing a number of control strategies to reduce ozone pollution, including, but not limited to: motor vehicle tailpipe @PFDesktOp\::ODMA/WORLDOX/O:/WDOX/RESOLUTI/R61207D1.WPD emission testing; workplace -based programs to reduce commuting emissions; a heave -duty vehicle idling restriction; and emissions reductions from local power plants; and WHEREAS, the City of Round Rock recognizes that reliable electric energy is vital to its continued economic development; and WHEREAS, the City of Round Rock recognizes the need for additional energy supplies to meet the continued growth and prosperity of this region; and WHEREAS, the City of Round Rock acknowledges that its economic development efforts will be affected detrimentally by either unreliable power or being labeled as non -attainment by the EPA; WHEREAS, as of April 30, 2006, 16 new coal-fired power units have been proposed to be built in Texas before 2010, increasing the state's electric generating capacity by more than 10%; and WHEREAS, at least 8 of these proposed power units are in such close proximity to the Austin -Round Rock area that they can be reasonably expected to exacerbate the region's already elevated levels of ozone pollution; and WHEREAS, an analysis by the University of Texas at Austin included that "the ozone increases associated with the construction of [four of] the proposed coal-fired power plants in Central Texas could more than offset the reduction in ozone impacts associated with the recommended EAC control strategies on specific days;" and WHEREAS, failure to meet the clean air goals of the EAC will mean that other sources of pollution in the Austin -Round Rock area (such as individual vehicle owners, owners of vehicle fleets and small @PFDesktop\::ODMA/WORLDOX/O:/WDOX/RESOLUTI/R61207D1.WPD 2 businesses will have to shoulder an increased burden of reducing emissions to comply with EPA's ozone standard; Now Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS: The City hereby reaffirms its commitment both to improving air quality in the Austin -Round Rock area, and to providing a pro-business environment that encourages and promotes economic growth. The City fully supports the addition of power plants in Texas that utilize advanced and innovative technologies for reducing emissions. The City encourages the TCEQ and the energy industry to find solutions to the growing demand for energy, while at the same time integrating mitigation measures such as cleaner fuels, emission reductions, local offsets, plant relocation and innovative technologies to ensure that the impacted areas' attainment goals remain intact. The City Council hereby finds and declares that written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of the meeting at which this Resolution was adopted was posted and that such meeting was open to the as required by law at all times during which this Resolution and the subject matter hereof were discussed, considered and formally acted upon, all as required by the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended. RESOLVED this 7th day of December, 2006. Mayor C y of Round Rock, Texas TEST: , 1 1WHRISTINE 0. MARTINEZ, City Secretary c DATE: November 30, 2006 SUBJECT: City Council Meeting - December 1, 2006 ITEM: 11.D.1. Consider a resolution opposing the permitting of coal -burning power plants in Texas. This item was placed on the agenda by Mayor Pro -tem McGraw and Councilmember Clifford. This resolution presents the City's position regarding coal -burning power plants in Texas. A presentation regarding coal -burning power plants was given during the Council packet briefing on September 26, 2006.