We believe in using technology, science, industrial processing and ingenuity to interact with our world in a sustainable manner for this and future generations. We believe in keeping water clean, keeping air healthy, and using more renewable energy while creating less waste. We believe in keeping rivers flowing and estuaries and bays healthy.
We recognize that the sun is the most plentiful source of energy for the planet and that its energy is renewable and clean. We know it is essential to build the political will to use the earth’s resources wisely for both current and future generations. We know it is essential to elect office holders who hold these values and have the vision and will to act.
Unlike Governor Perry, Democrats believe that the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico was the result of gross corporate irresponsibility, not an “act of God.” We should not apologize to BP for making them put up money to pay the legitimate claims of people who have been so terribly harmed by their malfeasance.
Stronger State Environmental Protection, Regulation and Enforcement is essential to preserve our quality of life and secure long-term economic growth. Gov. Perry’s lax TCEQ has failed to enforce the law and as a result, the state is ceding its responsibility to protect Texans’ health. “Flex permits” that allow excess pollution must be changed to protect the health of Texans. The use of TCEQ permits to make billions of dollars for some of Perry’s largest contributors must end. State regulatory officials must be appointed who will protect our health by using science as a basis for decisions. They must enforce state and federal laws, and protect our air, water and land from those who pollute for profit.
We support:
- a requirement that all major permit proceedings include consideration of the feasibility and cost analyses of less polluting, alternative technology;
- the repeal of state grandfathering provisions that allow circumvention of municipal regulations that protect health and human safety and the property of nearby landowners;
- limiting the volume and curies of radioactive waste coming to Texas and only allowing disposal of radioactive waste from the Compact States of Texas and Vermont to prevent Texas from becoming a dumping ground for radioactive waste from other countries and 36 or more other states;
- thorough scrutiny of the lax environmental enforcement by Perry’s Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) through the Sunset Review process;
- requiring TCEQ to protect the health of Texans by enforcing the Clean Air Act and analyzing cumulative pollution impacts on downwind communities before making permitting decisions;
- strengthening violation penalties so that it does not pay to pollute;
- repeal of legislation promoted by Gov. Perry allowing the state to interfere with local prosecutors’ ability to bring criminals who poison our air and water to justice;
- the rights of all citizens to participate in the permitting process and contested hearings in order to protect their property, health and the environment;
- a 90% reduction of mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants in order to protect public health and prevent brain damage in children;
- retirement of the oldest, heavy-polluting, coal burning Texas power plants that are so outdated that pollution controls are not an economically viable option; prevent contamination of Texas’ land, air and water by proposed Canadian tar sands pipelines;
- protecting watersheds, aquifers, schools and neighborhoods from the harmful effects of transporting dangerous materials through pipelines or other forms of surface transportation;
- enacting and enforcing guidelines to prevent contamination of Texas’ land, air and water by pipelines;
- the enactment of laws and regulations to protect low-income communities and communities of color from environmental racism and environmental injustice;
- strict “truth in labeling” laws and regulations that mandate the consumer’s right to know what is present in their food, including genetic engineering involved in product preparation;
- proper management and regulation of landfills that threaten community health;
- providing State and Federal funds to address border environmental problems caused by inadequate water, wastewater treatment systems and air pollution; and
- the enactment of state policy that allows local government to protect air and water quality, public safety, historical sites and health from actions that adversely affect their community.
Clean Air is becoming the exception instead of the rule on too many days in Texas, and that has a profound effect on children and adults who suffer from asthma and respiratory illnesses. We support the adoption, immediate implementation, and strong enforcement of clean air plans by State officials, including those for the San Antonio, El Paso, Austin, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Houston areas. We also support:
- new technologies that use clean, Texas-based fuels and reduce costs to consumers;
- stricter vehicle emissions standards comparable to standards required in foreign markets;
- encouraging the large-scale planting of trees to absorb greenhouse gases, improve wildlife habitat, and promote beautification;
- energy efficiency programs that reduce energy needs and as a result also reduce air pollution from power plants; and
- reducing the threat caused by indoor air pollution, including toxic mold, in our schools.
The preservation of recreational and open spaces is essential to a healthy Texas. Unfortunately, recent actions by Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson have violated the public trust and highlighted the need to reverse years of Republican neglect of our state parks and public lands. We must provide adequate funding for the upkeep, maintenance and acquisition of state park land. We must also reward those who voluntarily protect endangered species on their lands through Safe Harbor Agreements and similar measures, and we support open space acquisition to protect Texas aquifers and watersheds that provide sole source drinking water for millions of Texans. We support strong enforcement of laws that provide full public access and restoration of public lands, parks, beaches, and waters.
The Availability of Clean Water from publicly managed resources is essential to our future and our health. As a result of the recent Gulf Oil Spill the natural environment has been devastated, local economies crippled, and billions are now needed for cleanup. We support:
- strong penalties and remediation requirements in response to the massive contamination of the Gulf of Mexico,
- vigorous research and the adoption of safeguards to prevent future oil spills;
- the implementation of aggressive water conservation and reuse practices;
- protecting Texas bays, estuaries, in-stream flows, and wetlands with regulations that safeguard offshore reefs, maritime resources, recreational and commercial fisheries;
- giving regional groundwater conservation districts authority to preserve the water within their districts, protect communities from water hustlers, implement conservation standards related to the development density, green building, and other measures;
- requiring regional groundwater districts to maintain the historic minimum flows of all springs and creeks and to protect drinking water supplies, plants, and wildlife;
- thorough analysis of the relative short term and long term costs and present and environmental impact of proposed large new reservoirs and alternative sources of public water supplies, including the impact of electric generation plants that require the use of significant amounts of water;
- increased state funding for local infrastructure to reduce illness-causing bacteria levels in public waters by meeting EPA standards;
- expanded testing of fish and shellfish for mercury, radionuclides and other contaminants and public notification of health risks;
- preventing depletion and exploitation of limited state water resources by “water wildcatters;” and,
- support research and understanding of the state’s groundwater resources.