Citizens Boast Several Opinions On Las Brisas Power Plant At Public Hearing
Thomas Piland
KRIS-TV Corpus Christi
Updated: Feb 17, 2009
CORPUS CHRISTI - A debate over the Las Brisas Power Plant got heated at the city council's public hearing Tuesday morning.
The debate began at City Hall and then moved to the Del Mar Center for Economic Development.
The public hearing was the beginning of a lengthy process that will determine if the Las Brisas Power Plant will be built in Corpus Christi, just north of the ship channel. The hearing had to be moved out of City Hall because there were too many people who wanted to voice their opinion.
An estimated 300-400 people packed the sixth floor conference room at City Hall. It was their chance to give facts on why the proposed Las Brisas Power Plant should or shouldn't be built.
However, the size of the crowd worried the judge and others.
"The fire marshal [said] we have too many people in here," Judge Tommy Broyles announced at the hearing.
Broyles threatened several times to move the hearing to Austin and warned people about getting out of hand.
"I don't want this plant because I already live by six large refineries and I've been affected by the air pollution," Jean Salone said, who lives in the Hillcrest area.
"Her concerns are air pollution, the affects on her health and dangerous situations like gas entering her home," Salone said.
Throughout the sixth floor signs stated 'keep the Sparkling City by the Sea free of toxins and mercury'.
"I'm very concerned about my health. We are the 84th most polluted county in the country right now based on the tri data," Dr. Melissa Jarrell said.
After both meetings, Broyles listed the names of about 40 people that will have to cite evidence of how building the Las Brisas Power Plant would impact people's health.
"It might cause adverse affects to myself, to my neighbors, to wildlife, to fish in the bay," local resident Bill Reeves said.
Broyles said the next hearing would be held sometime in August. The 40 people who were selected from Tuesday's hearing will then have an opportunity to voice their opposition or support for the project.
Online Reporter: Thomas Piland