Op-Ed: Texas Should Lead, Not Litigate, on Clean Power

A Houston Chronicle business columnist argues in defense of the Obama Administration's new environmental rules.

1 minute read

August 18, 2015, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Chris Tomlinson writes an op-ed calling for the state government of Texas to support the Clean Power Plan recently announced by the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency. A string of rhetorical question introduces the topic by bringing it close to home: "Do you want your children one day working in a coal mine? Or how about a job washing and pulverizing coal? Or maybe operating the machinery that feeds coal into boilers?"

Tomlinson describes the Clean Power Plan as effective (i.e., it "would likely cut by half our reliance on coal to generate electricity in 2030 when compared with 2005) as well as incremental (i.e., " We're a fifth of the way there already, and the new mandates aren't even in force yet).

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, however, has promised to fight the plan in federal court, thus inspiring the op-ed from Tomlinson, who notes the conservative political arguments that the Clean Power Rule is a threat to liberty that over-steps the original intent of the federal Clean Air Act. Tomnlinson's response to that argument: "The 2,500-page Clean Power Plan is neither the answer to environmentalists' prayers nor a socialist takeover of the economy. It actually empowers states to develop their own plans to limit the amount of carbon dioxide produced per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated."

Tuesday, August 4, 2015 in Houston Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

View from hilltop residential neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles, California on a cloudy day.

LA Falling Behind on Housing Goals

Last year, the city permitted just 30 percent of the number of housing units needed to meet a growing need.

6 seconds ago - LAist

Canada geese and ducks on the shore of a lake with red brick boathouse in background across the lake in Lincoln Park, Los Angeles.

Connecting Communities to Nature Close to Home

Los Angeles County’s Nature in Your Neighborhood program brings free, family-friendly wellness and nature activities to local parks, making it easier for residents to enjoy and connect with the outdoors.

2 hours ago - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation

Children inside large slide at water park.

Palmdale’s Beloved Water Park Gets $2 Million Upgrade

To mark its 20th anniversary, DryTown Water Park has undergone major renovations, ensuring that families across the Antelope Valley continue to enjoy safe, affordable, and much-needed water-based recreation in the high desert.

3 hours ago - Antelope Valley Press

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.