Has Rep. Phil King gone green?

Dallas-based electricity company TXU was going to build a bunch of “clean coal” power plants, but decided they may not be financially viable. So it looks like they’ll just have to settle for the old soot-choking, noxious-fumes kind. Of course, perennial business-boosters Rick Perry, David Dewhurst, and John Bolton look-alike King have all come out swingin’ in favor of the “dirty plants.”

But not so fast. It’s not like King, who, likely keeping his Regulated Industries committee seat overseeing electricity in the state, doesn’t believe in pollution. He’s responded via press release to an article in yesterday’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram he feels downplays his views on the effects of coal smoke. (No, it’s not made of kittens and flowers.) Apparently, and he wants you to understand this very clearly, he is not opposed to Texas regulating nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide pollution from power plants. Phil King. Republican. Pollution regulation. Yeah, mull that one over for a moment.

But for those of you currently clutching your chest in shock, don’t worry, it’s still Phil. He goes on to clarify he still believes that global warming is “bad science” and that the state has no role in regulating carbon dioxide emissions. But since the US is running out of anthracite coal (lots of energy, lots of carbon dioxide) and becoming more dependent on lignite (less energy, less carbon dioxide, lots and lots of sulfur dioxide,) maybe he’s just being very forward-thinking…

This article appears in January 26 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.