Saturday Town Hall on the Report Release of Close Parish Coal: How the Dirtiest Coal Plant in Texas Harms Public Health and the Environment; and the Alternatives for Fort Bend
W.A. Parish is ranked as the dirtiest coal plant in Texas
For Immediate Release
Photo and Interview opportunity starting at 1:30 PM
Media contact: Riikka Pohjankoski, [email protected], 713.589.7079
Air Alliance Houston will host a town hall event this Saturday (August 5) focusing on the release of the report, Close Parish Coal: How the Dirtiest Coal Plant in Texas Harms Public Health and the Environment; and the Alternatives for Fort Bend.
The W.A. Parish coal-fired power plant in Fort Bend County (located just outside of Houston), has threatened public health and the natural environment for decades. According to a study from Rice University scientists, this plant is responsible for upwards of 178 premature deaths a year. The dangers of Parish worry the communities neighboring the facility as well as those across the region advocating for public health and the environment. One of the main concerns is NRG Energy’s pending permit renewal application which could prolong their operations in Fort Bend, and the community’s ability to participate in the permitting process with adequate knowledge of the harms of Parish.
Air Alliance Houston has worked with the Fort Bend community to launch a W.A. Parish coal opposition campaign, which came together in the weeks following the fire at Parish in May 2022. In the past year, Parish has failed during key moments, such as the record breaking heat of 2022 and the heat wave of 2023, and has endangered the community with not only a fire, but a chemical exposure that hospitalized six employees and endangered hundreds.
The new report dives deep into the dirty history of W.A. Parish and its looming future as a persistent silent killer in the Fort Bend community. With no commitment to retirement in sight, NRG Energy’s W.A. Parish will continue to pollute for years to come.
Air Alliance Houston will host this town hall to inform communities about the coal plant, its impact on residents, and the upcoming facility permit renewal.
Local Fort Bend County officials and community members will be in attendance.
What: Townhall: Close Parish Coal: How the Dirtiest Coal Plant in Texas Harms Public Health and the Environment; and the Alternatives for Fort Bend
Who:
Moderator: Alondra Torres, Climate Justice Coordinator, Air Alliance Houston
Featured Speakers:
- Donna Thomas, Founder, Fort Bend County Environmental
- Adrian Shelley, Director, Public Citizen Texas Office
- Dr. Daniel Cohan, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University
- Dr. Inyang Uwak, Research and Policy Director, Air Alliance Houston
Where: Fort Bend County Libraries, 550 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land, TX 77478
When: Saturday, August 5, 2023 2 PM to 3:30 PM; Interview opportunity starting at 1:30 PM, Report Presentation starting at 2 PM, Q&A and more interview opportunities starting at 2:30 PM
Why: To discuss and share concerns and information related to the W.A. Parish coal plant and how its status as the dirtiest coal plant in Texas negatively impacts the health and safety of the Fort Bend community.
Additional information: Spanish interpretation will be provided. Copies of the report will be available at the event. Light food and beverage will be served.
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The W.A. Parish Opposition Coal Working Group, Close Parish Coal, is committed to bringing attention to the health and environmental impact of NRG Energy’s W.A. Parish coal plant. Close Parish Coal strives to create a healthier and safer Fort Bend County and Greater Houston area through supporting community-led action that advocates for the closure of the coal units at Parish. Coalition members include Fort Bend County Environmental, Air Alliance Houston, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, and Mi Familia Vota.