East Austin Wins the Fight to Become Powerless

A power plant in East Austin was finally laid to rest after almost a decade of neighbors trying to turn off its lights. The power plant was built in the '60s and early '70s and consisted of four cells. The Holly Power Plant was a natural gas burning power plant that produced approximately 358 MW of energy. Although the plant's production has been shut down, the lifeless structure could take up to two years to come down.

The concern of the locals was that the PCBs and high sulfur burning could cause adverse health effects. A study done by the Texas Department of Public Health in 1999 did not find any conclusive evidence. They stated in the report that:

Data are not available to determine if rates of respiratory illnesses or other health problems are higher in the neighborhood around the Holly Street Power Plant. According to available data, the only time that the plant would be likely to produce contaminants associated with respiratory illness would be on the occasions when it burned high sulfur content fuel oil. Based on the air modeling results, it is possible that when high sulfur content fuel was burned in the past, sulfur dioxide levels could have been high enough to temporarily affect sensitive individuals. The voluntary conversion to a low sulfur content fuel oil should ensure that sulfur dioxide emissions remain below the levels potentially able to cause adverse reactions in sensitive individuals. Under current operating conditions, it is not likely that the plant would be responsible for increased rate of respiratory illnesses or other health problems.

Although the same report also stated this:

For the years 1989 to 1992 the lung cancer experience for African American males and White females living in this zip code area is significantly greater than would be expected.

The fight to remove the plant started in the early '90s and officials said the plant would be retired as soon as it was practical. Energy alternatives have been found and now the plant can now be put to rest. The residents around the Holly Power Plant held a candle light vigil Sunday night when the plant was shut down. Although the residents were happy about the plant being shut off, they weren't happy about the rumor of condos taking the plant's place. Luckily though, officials are throwing $18 million of our money at the project of turning the land into dedicated park land.

So through it all, I am proud of the neighbors of the Holly Power Plant for fighting for alternative energy sources and trying to improve the air quality where they live. Although the reports that I found on the power plant (all one of them) contradicted itself many times; a power plant next to a residential neighborhood is never a good thing to have. Hopefully more communities will be fighting for cleaner air in their area, leading to alternative energy sources.

Article: http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=192851
Report: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA/aus/aus_p2.html

-Gregory