The city presented a panel of speakers, then opened the floor to public comment and questioned and concluded the four hour-long meeting by answering some of the questions raised by the county residents.

Jess Totten with the Public Utility Commission began the presentation by explaining how the State of Texas is attempting to increase power generation in the state. “We’re confident that the competitive market is responding to the need for generation in Texas.  There are many power plant projects that are in the process,” Totten said.

State Representative Byron Cook explained that Navarro County is an attractive area for power plant developers because of its water rights. “Water is the most valuable asset we have.  Corsicana is blessed with water rights.  So, it’s not surprising that we’re now having the companies come in and want to purchase water,” Cook said.  A second reason is that Navarro County has two major transmission lines, as well as a natural gas supply line that runs through the county. 

City Manager Connie Standridge presented a summary of the City’s water rights from each of its water sources:  Navarro Mills: 15.901 million gallons per day, Lake Halbert: 1.2 MGD, and Richland Chambers: 12.185 MGD.  The proposed power plants will use 10 MGD per day and will connect directly into the city’s pipeline that will run from Richland Chambers to Lake Halbert.  The 10 MGD used by the plants was contrasted to the amount that evaporates from the lake (178 MGD) and to the amount that is used by Tarrant County (113.73 MGD.) 

Lee McCleary, Economic Developer for the city and county, along with Russell P. Hudson, Tax Assessor & Collector presented tax information and estimates of how the new plants would affect the county’s tax base and tax rate.  Navarro County’s tax rate (for county and college taxes only) is 69 cents per $100 valuation, a much higher rate than its surrounding counties.  (Limestone – 43 cents, Ellis – 39 cents, Freestone – 23 cents.)  The tax base, however, is only $2.22 billion, compared to Ellis County’s $9.53, Freestone’s $4.46 and Limestone’s $2.56 billion.  Hudson estimated that adding $800 million (the taxable value of the plants), figuring 50% tax abatement for the first ten years, would lower the county tax to 41 cents per $100 valuation and the Navarro College tax to 9.5 cents. 

The overwhelming majority of the public comment was voicing opposition to the power plants for a variety of reasons, including water usage concerns, pollution, as well as economic consequences to the county. 

Patrick Patterson led off the discussion, by leaving water and air concerns to other speakers.  “The only benefit from these plants that we hear about is property tax revenue for the county and water sales for the city. This is not about generating jobs, building roads or stimulating the economy.  Our main selling point for developing in our county is our quality of life – clean air and water,” Patterson said.  “In the long run, we’re going to lose more tax revenue and water sales from the retirement community, high tech jobs like Northrup Grumman and recreational facilities, like the soon to be, water park.  These are the types of businesses that keep recycling money throughout the community instead of shipping it out of state.  Will these desirable businesses come to us if they know that two or three or more polluting industries are coming?  Do you think Russell Stovers’ would have come if we had allowed the rendering plant?”  Patterson questioned whether the city’s image would be improved by having the power plants located here.   “Finally, these plants are going to generate in their lifetime billions of dollars of profit.  It’s an economic tradeoff – power versus pollution.  Nearly all the wealth created here in Navarro County will be shipped out of state.  Pollution we get to keep.”  

Leon Allard spoke in support of the city’s sale of water.  “The issue before us is what happens if the air quality board approves it and we reject it.  It seems to me that they’re going to get the water from the lake no matter what. It’s Tarrant County’s water.  The plant can go to Freestone County and pay 1/3 of that in oil tax without the college tax.  It will pay a higher cost (to get water) that somewhat offsets the tax savings.  But yes, we’re going to lose both the taxes and the water revenues and the employment.  And we’ll lose any opportunity to have better roads and bridges and streets.  It’s a harsh reality that we don’t control the Richland Chambers lake water, but we do have the opportunity to intervene with its use and derive substantial economic benefits from it.  I urge you not to allow this opportunity pass. 

Over forty Navarro County residents rose to air their comments and views about the city’s proposed water sales and general concerns about having two natural-gas fired plants come into the county.  Several urged that the city and county officials have air-quality tests done in the county before signing any agreements.  Current air quality conditions in the county are not known, because there are no monitors located here.

Ms. Standridge and Mayor Buster Brown addressed several questions during the final section of the town hall meeting.  Standridge explained that the water discharge from the plant would be pre-treated before being returned to Richland Chambers.  It was her belief that the return will be through a pipeline, and not merely allowed to run off into area creeks, but she urged residents to address that concern during the TCEQ public hearing, if one is held. 

Many of the public speakers voiced concern about the possibility of the natural gas-fired plant converting to a coal-fired plant in the future.  Mayor Brown pledged to include wording in the City’s water contract that would terminate the contract if the power plant were ever to be converted to coal.  Jess Totten, with the PUC, explained that a power plant is limited to the amount of emissions is sets up in its initial air permit.  A conversion to coal would require a new permitting process to allow for the additional emissions that coal plants produce. 

Rep. Cook pledged to contact the TCEQ the following day to address the lack of air monitors in Navarro County. 

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