Tuesday, September 17, 2024
The Hood County Commissioners Court adopted a resolution Tuesday, Aug. 27 urging the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to deny an air quality permit requested by Constellation Energy for the expansion of its Wolf Hollow II power generation facility — referred to as Wolf Hollow III.
The court’s decision follows concerns raised by local residents and officials about potential environmental and health impacts.
If approved, the Wolf Hollow III project would serve as a critical backstop for Texas’ energy grid during periods of extreme demand, such as heat waves or cold snaps.
The proposed new eight gas units would replace older, less efficient generators within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas system and help ensure reliable energy supply as additional energy sources are developed.
However, local officials and residents are wary of the environmental and noise impacts of the expansion. Constellation Energy has assured the community it will comply with all state and local noise ordinances and will not expand bitcoin operations at the site.
The outcome of TCEQ’s decision on the air quality permits will determine whether Constellation Energy proceeds with the Wolf Hollow III project.
The resolution, presented during the court session, specifically called on the TCEQ to deny the issuance of state air quality permits for Wolf Hollow II, which currently operates as a 1,115 MW combined-cycle gas and steam turbine facility.
The facility, located in Hood County, began operations in June 2017 and is owned and operated by Constellation Energy. The company has proposed expanding the site with eight additional gas-fired generation capacity under the name Wolf Hollow III, which would add approximately 300 megawatts to the Texas grid.
During the session, Precinct 2 Commissioner Nannette Samuelson read a statement from Cindy Highsmith, a local resident, who expressed concerns about the potential increase in air pollutants.
Highsmith highlighted that the proposed expansion would emit significant amounts of harmful contaminants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and hazardous air pollutants like sulfuric acid and mercury.
She emphasized the importance of Hood County maintaining its status as an “attainment area” under the EPA’s air quality standards, which ensures clean air for residents and supports responsible industrial growth.
“There are three nonattainment areas in Texas. They are Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio,” Highsmith wrote. “Do we want to become a non-attainment area? I think the answer is no.”
Highsmith also pointed out the proximity of the Wolf Hollow site to water bodies such as the Brazos River, Squaw Creek and Lake Granbury, raising alarms about the potential for mercury contamination in these areas.
She urged the commissioners to support the resolution to protect public health and the environment.
Samuelson concluded with a motion, “ The Hood County Commissioners Court urges TCEQ to deny issuance of proposed state air quality permit 175-173, issuance of prevention of significant deterioration, air quality permit PSDTX-1636, and issuance of greenhouse gas GHG-PSD, air quality permit GHG-PSDTX-238, (8:30) for emissions of GHG and that this resolution be mailed to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of Chief Clerk, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas.”
With Precinct 4 Commissioner Dave Eagle seconding Samuelson’s motion, the resolution received unanimous support from the court and will be sent to the TCEQ and the offices of State Sen. Brian Birdwell and State Rep. Shelby Slawson to bolster their case against the expansion.
