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Making a difference for future generations
Published: November 04, 2006 02:18 am
Brinkmans among group protesting coal plant permit
By Rich Flowers
Glenn and Carolyn Brinkman chose to live in Athens to enjoy the blue
skies, green trees and small town lifestyle. They don’t want pollution
from a proposed new coal-powered electrical plant near Fairfield to change
that atmosphere.
The Brinkmans are part of a group of about 25 Athens-area individuals
called “The East Texas Environmental Concerns Organization.” The group
opposes any efforts to grant a permit for the plant before its effects on
the air are considered. They believe newer technologies should be
explored.
“Some say we’re against progress, but we’re for progress,” Carolyn said.
“They’re using 19th-century technology in many of these coal plants.”
“We believe in using coal,” Glenn said, “but we believe it should be as
clean as possible. I don’t want to sell out the next generation.”
The Fairfield plant is one of 19 proposed by TXU Electric around the
state. There are already two plants at Big Brown, a large TXU coal power
complex in Freestone County.
Glenn’s interest in the air and outdoors is not new. He earned a forestry
degree almost 50 years ago. Then, for years he made his living raising
cattle. In March, he received a Pioneer Award, recognizing his
contributions to the Brangus Breeders Association.
“A rancher is an environmentalist anyway,” he said, “You have to be one to
survive.”
Today, the Brinkmans own land in Anderson County not far from Big Brown.
Glenn said he can see the glow of fire from the coal plant when he’s out
working cattle.
Carolyn and Glenn have been married 46 years, and after stops in and out
of Texas, they settled in Athens in 1993. Carolyn, a classically trained
musician, has been pianist at the Athens Presbyterian Church for several
years.
“We’re really glad we live in Athens,” she said. “We considered the Hill
Country, but chose this area because of the big trees.”
Carolyn serves as vice president of ETECO. The president is Margaret Rands,
who moved to the area after retiring from county government in Santa
Clara, Calif. Rands had relatives in the Athens area and had visited for
about 25 years. The Brinkmans say Rands has long had an interest in
environmental issues.
Other officers in the group are Alisa Anderson, secretary, an English
teacher at Athens High School; and Bob Renk, a retired Trinity Valley
Community College professor. They are working on organizational bylaws,
and expect to have a web site ready soon.
The Brinkmans first became interested in coal-powered plants after reading
the book “Big Coal,” by Jeff Goodell.
“It reads like a novel,” Glenn said.
Big Coal gives a history of the coal industry in the U.S.
“The book doesn’t castigate everyone, but explores some of the dangers,”
Carolyn added.
Carolyn said the people of Fairfield won’t see most of the pollution.
“That’s why the smokestacks are so high, so the smoke is carried away. A
bigger smokestack is not going to solve the problem though,” she said.
The smoke, Glenn explained, is carried by the prevailing southwesterly
breeze across Anderson County into Athens. In it, they say, is methane,
hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide — byproducts of the gasification process
that changes the solid coal into gas.
The ETECO plans to meet again 6.30 p.m., Monday, November 13, at the East
Texas Arboretum.
“We scheduled it after the election because we didn’t want it
politicized,” Carol said.
The October 25 meeting was mainly for dispensing information, she
explained. At the next gathering they’ll focus more on what people can do.
Glenn said the organization invites “everyone who breathes air and fishes
in the area.”
Another important date, according to the Brinkmans, is November 28, when a
public hearing on the permit protest will be held at the Fairfield High
School Auditorium. The hearing will be conducted like a civil trial, with
a judge presiding.
The Brinkmans don’t know who’ll be speaking yet, but Glenn hopes because
he owns land in the Fairfield area he’ll get a chance to state his views.
The meeting starts at 10 a.m.
———
Rich Flowers/Athens Review /
e-mail
rflowers@athensreview.com
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