Senator Jose Rodriguez—Texas State Senator, District 29, including El Paso

On September 1, 2010, Democratic Senate Nominee Jose Rodriguez held an Environmental Forum, the last in a series of forums to obtain community input on key issues important to Senate District 29. The environmental forum was opened on an upbeat note by Corinne Chacon, the Communication Manager for the Rodriguez for Senate Campaign. Ms. Chacon described the perfect storm of opportunities that is approaching our border region in the form of environmental and alternative energy development initiatives along with an abundance of natural and human resources.

The panelists, beginning with Christina Viescas-Santos, Assistant El Paso County Attorney, emphasized the need for increased education among all sectors of our community regarding the need to: preserve our desert, air and water resources through coordination with different entities and enforcement of existing laws; continue work in strengthening legislation and regulations; and reminding the populace that littering constitutes a criminal offense. She noted El Paso County’s distinction as the only County in Texas with an Environmental Court, a court, incidentally, authorized by the Texas Legislature through the efforts of then El Paso County Attorney Jose Rodriguez and other participants in El Paso’s annual Environmental
Summit.

Marty Howell, the El Paso’s Sustainability Manager, described the City’s initiatives to promote sound environmental policies in such areas as waste management, green building codes, and alternative energy initiatives such as promoting solar energy through rebates. Mr. Howell touted the more than one million dollars in savings that have been derived from the city’s energy efficiency measures.

The opportunities for economic development through green policies and the work that’s being done to train and develop workers and entrepreneurs in this area were addressed by two members of the El Paso Community College staff.  James Coe, Coordinator of Customized Training, explained the Paso del Norte region’s unique features and the opportunities presented by a green economy. Mr. Coe and Dr. Olga Valerio, Director of the Advanced Technology Center, informed the audience of a Texas Workforce Development grant which EPCC and UTEP received to develop workforce training curriculum at the college level. The curricula being developed will be available for use by all colleges in Texas and even the nation. Students are already enrolled in courses at both institutions which will qualify them for environmental certification as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, solar engineers, solar installers, customer service, sales agents, and business owners.

Audience members expressed lively and passionate questions and comments, including:

• Questions about the limited use of local contractors in major building projects;
• Questions about the City’s recent vote to commercially develop a pristine area next to the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Park and about the need for solar energy users to resell excess energy back to the city or utility;
• Questions about the recent promotion of the maquiladora industry as a green industry, when the cheap wages that are paid to workers contribute to poverty conditions, which in turn help feed the violence and war in Mexico;
• Concerns about the difficult and important work being done by environmentalists and the lack of progress, generally, on controlling pollution due to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s flexible permitting program, which the EPA recently said contributes to Texas’ high pollution levels in violation of the Federal Clean Air Act; and,
• Concerns about mountain degradation caused by quarry activities on the central and west sides of El Paso.

Participants also expressed their appreciation for the County’s collaboration with Ft. Bliss to produce geothermal energy and the Fort’s leadership in solar energy.

Jose Rodriguez closed the meeting by reiterating his commitment to help El Paso become the State leader in developing renewable energy, creating green job opportunities, and preserving natural resources.