Smoked Out

Well, it looks like Mayor Laura Miller's schedule has cleared up for tomorrow. She was supposed to land in Austin at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday for the first day of hearings before the State Office of Administrative Hearings concerning TXU's attempt to get permits for 11 coal-fired plants throughout the state...

By Patrick Williams

February 20, 2007

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Well, it looks like Mayor Laura Miller's schedule has cleared up for tomorrow. She was supposed to land in Austin at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday for the first day of hearings before the State Office of Administrative Hearings concerning TXU's attempt to get permits for 11 coal-fired plants throughout the state. Tuesday afternoon the mayor boarded one of three buses heading for Waco, where the Texas Clean Air Cities Coalition is presenting its case against TXU. On the way down, says she received word from the consumer lobby group Public Citizen that a state district judge in Austin has ruled against allowing the hearings to proceed.

The mayor says the judge has found "a flaw" in Governor Rick Perry's executive decision to fast-track TXU's permit processs. Miller believes the judge has "heard the millions of Texans" who are opposed the plants and want to slow down the process.

Nonetheless, the bus trip to Waco will proceed as planned, and we must say, Central Market has prepared a delicious box lunch for the ride. --Robert Wilonsky

Update: Miller and her legal team will still be heading to Austin the morning to find out what the next step is.

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Patrick Williams is editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer. Before joining the staff in July 1997, Patrick worked for the Southern Illinoisan, Amarillo Globe News and San Antonio Express-News. As editor-in-chief, he oversees the newsroom and guides the coverage of both the Dallas Observer’s printed publication and online website.

Contact: Patrick Williams