Food for thought
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Dear Editor,
While there are serious environmental concerns regarding the White Stallion coal plant, have our leaders considered that there’s a real possibility Matagorda County could see NO tax revenue from this project?
If White Stallion is successful in their permitting process, the project leaders, Randy Bird and Frank Rotundi, do not have the money ready to construct a $2.5 billion plant. Most likely they will sell the permit for their financial reward. Congratulations to them. They are here to make money. I have no problem with that.
But if the permit/project is sold to a city or rural electric cooperative, Matagorda County will see no tax revenue. Municipalities and coops are exempt from the taxes our county would hope to get from this plant. Even worse, this type of new owner will have the power of eminent domain to condemn land for right-of-ways, water pipelines, transmission lines, rail road tracks etc.
San Antonio, Austin, Bryan/College Station and the ever-growing Houston area all need power, so the threat of them snatching up a coal plant permit is very real.
Matagorda County, Bay City ISD and the Hospital District may all end up getting no tax revenue, but we will all still have the environmental concerns of a coal/pet coke power plant.
Our local tax rates may even have to be increased to pay for infrastructure supporting a tax-exempt coal plant.
County leaders need to get a handle on dealing with these issues and at least protect our economic interests – even if they aren’t concerned with the water usage issue, environmental and health issues.
According to my calculations, the amount of firm water White Stallion needs will take approximately 9000 acres of rice and turf grass out of production in the very near future. This amount of decrease in acres is about 300 jobs.
Thank you,
MIKE BURNSIDE
Bay City