TXU may have the ear of Gov. Rick Perry when it comes to their proposed coal-fired power stations, but they’re facing an opposition that is well-funded, well-organized, and well-motivated. At a rally held Sunday on the Capitol steps, more than 1,000 protesters said “hell no” to the Dallas-based energy company’s proposed pollution-production. They’d been organized through an auto-dialer phone campaign (normally the reserve of big-budget election campaigns) and got free T-shirts (printed front and back – nice) for turning up.

But never fear! There were still some brave proponents of TXU’s right to dump carbon dioxide, methyl-mercury, sulfur, and other particulates into the atmosphere. Fearless First Amendment types, speaking for the corporate underdog. But who were those noble souls sporting the huge “Texas Needs Power” pins?

Err … TXU employees, imported from around the state, especially for the occasion.

This article appears in February 9 • 2007.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

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.