In an ongoing effort to dramatically reduce its property taxes, Texas’ biggest utility may be on the brink of forcing a community hospital in Somervell County to close. In July, the Observer published an in-depth look at how Luminant, which owns a portfolio of coal and nuclear power plants, is waging a six-county legal campaign to force local appraisal districts to slash the appraisals on the plants. Nowhere are the stakes higher than in Somervell County — home of Comanche Peak nuclear power plant, about 75 miles southwest of Dallas. The power plant supplies 80 percent of the property taxes in the county.
Is a policy analyst consultant for TCAP, a coalition of political subdivisions in Texas that purchase electricity in the deregulated market for their own governmental use. Because energy costs are typically a significant budget item to our members, TCAP is consistently looking for ways to save our members money, through cost-saving contracts, energy efficiency or demand response programs.