Dirty Air, Dirty Money: Grandfathered Pollution Pays Dividends Downwind in Austin
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III. Does Grandpa Own the Governor's Mansion?
Governor George W. Bush and the three commissioners he appointed to the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) are enthusiastic supporters of the go-slow, voluntary CARE program's approach to grandfathered smog. The governor held a news conference to tout the minimalist accomplishments of the CARE program on March 31, 19985.
Many of the grandfathered polluters backing Bush at the press conference back him in other ways, too. Between 1995 and 1997, Bush took $193,500 in contributions of $500 or more from political action committees (PACs) affiliated with grandfathered polluters. These companies spewed 451,269 tons of "non-permitted" pollution into Texas air in 1995 (46 percent of the total amount identified in the Grandfathered Air Pollution report), contributing an average of 14 cents to the Governor's campaign coffers for each ton of non-permitted pollution that they discharged.
PACs affiliated with Houston Industries lead the pack of grandfathered interests that contributed to Governor Bush between 1995 and 1997, giving him $25,000. PACs affiliated with Texas Utilities and Central & South West Corp.6 also contributed $20,000 or more to Bush.
|
"Houston Industries agrees with Governor Bush that the preferred method for dealing with grandfathered emissions, and perhaps many other environmental issues as well, is a well crafted voluntary program that achieves environmental improvement but allows flexibility for businesses." |
| Grandfathered Parent Co. |
Affiliated PAC $ to Bush |
Non-Permitted Pollution (Tons) |
| Houston Industries (HL&P) |
$25,000 |
20,390 |
| Central & South West Corp. |
$23,500 |
10,697 |
| Texas Utilities |
$20,000 |
210,847 |
| PG&E Corp. (Valero Energy) |
$15,000 |
9,788 |
| Owens-Corning |
$15,000 |
671 |
| Union Pacific |
$15,000 |
13,461 |
| Bass Partnership/Bass Enterprises |
$10,000 |
168 |
| American Airlines |
$10,000 |
111 |
| Dow Chemical |
$10,000 |
8,895 |
| Duke Power |
$7,000 |
14,970 |
| Lockheed Martin |
$6,000 |
43 |
| Compaq |
$5,000 |
61 |
| General Motors |
$5,000 |
764 |
| Phillips Petroleum* |
$5,000 |
71,337 |
| Fina |
$4,000 |
10,146 |
| Shell Oil* |
$3,000 |
22,698 |
| Ultramar Diamond Shamrock |
$2,500 |
7,081 |
| New Century Energies (SW Public Service) |
$2,500 |
3,558 |
| Eastman Chemical Co. |
$2,000 |
5,550 |
| Entergy |
$1,500 |
8,264 |
| Trinity Industries |
$1,000 |
16 |
| Mitchell Energy |
$1,000 |
317 |
| Mobil |
$1,000 |
20,291 |
| Union Carbide |
$1,000 |
13,176 |
| Rohm & Haas |
$1,000 |
3,511 |
| Champion International |
$1,000 |
4,670 |
| Vulcan Materials |
$500 |
265 |
|
TOTAL |
$193,500 |
451,269 |
Source: Texas Ethics Commission, Grandfathered Air Pollution.
* Phillips Petroleum and Shell Oil obtained "flexible permits" in 1995. These permits grant 10 years in which to achieve emissions reductions. In the interim, the companies still produce grandfathered emissions.
5 The event - held in Dallas' Reunion Tower
- was highly symbolic. Dallas flunks federal air quality standards. Ray
Hunt, who built Reunion Tower, heads Hunt Oil, which emmitted 2,349 tons
of grandfatherd pollution in 1995.
6 Central & South West Corp. owns Central Power & Light,
Southwestern Electric Power Co., and West Texas Utilities.
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