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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 26, 1994)
' : -I; STATE & LOCAL Tuesday • July 26,195 A&M power plant construction fizzles out Coni By Jan Higginbotham The Battalion Texas A&M will cease con struction of a $120 million co generation power plant on the A&M campus. The plant was designed to provide A&M’s utili ty needs through the year 2012. An estimated $15 million has already been spent by A&M in the initial phase of the project. The cancellation was an nounced in June and finalized by the Board of Regents Friday. A&M officials said in June that the project was being can celed because an agreement could not be reached between A&M and the company in charge of construction. Tenneco Power Generation Co. was to build the plant, which would have been the largest cap ital construction project ever built by the A&M System. Richard Lindsay, System vice chancellor for finance and opera tions, said that Tenneco and the System couldn’t agree on whether the plant is necessary. “We are discontinuing further negotiations because the Univer sity was not able to secure an agreement for the purchase of back-up power or the sale of ex cess power for the proposed pro ject,” Lindsay said. Megan Mastal, a spokes woman for Tenneco, said the company is optimistic about its future with the University. “We don’t believe that the Texas A&M decision is consis tent with project documents, nor is it in the best interests of the University or state taxpayers,” Mastal said. “We’re hoping to reach a resolution on this issue with the University.” Terri Parker, system director of communication, said that an agreement was required before March 31, 1994. “Despite the University’s best efforts, no agreement was reached,” Parker said. Problems with the project also arose because Tenneco did not find a bond issuer for the project. A bond issuer is a company that can issue tax-exempt bonds to fund the project. Phase I of the project, the in stallation of a facility to provide hot and chilled water to west campus, is already under con struction and is scheduled to be completed in November. Parker said the construction of Phase I won’t be a waste of time because the hot and cold water provided to west campus will reduce energy needs of re mote buildings. “Phase I will be completed,” she said. “The decision not to go ahead with Phase II will not affect it.” The power plant has recently been scrutinized by consultants who question the necessity of the project. Ernst & Young, a utilities consulting group, completed a study in June, reviewing the eco nomic and financial aspects in determining the need of the pow er plant, the evaluation process used to select a developer and the related risks involved. According to the study, the original evaluation of the pro gram did not consider substan tial risk to the University that would be caused by the plant. The evaluation also did not take into account possible changes in regulation of the util ity industry, which Parker said could result in lower prices if A&M were to buy the power. Stew Milne/THF. Bat.o: Phase I of the cogeneration plant is visible all over the north side of campus. This phase provides the west campus with air conditioning and heating. This construction is near the northside parking garage. ■ si -' • «SS!?<«g» || Stew Milne/THE Battalion Where is the restroom? Fui shi Au| A sign next to the men’s bathroom on the first floor of the BSBE building informs females that they must climb a flight of stairs to use the restroom. Trains collide, kill 4 Believers lose faith, Railroad disaster occurs in remote West Texas area MARATHON, Texas (AP) — Two freight trains collided head-on Mon day morning in a remote area of West Texas, killing all four crew members and derailing several cars, authorities said. Brewster County Judge Val Beard said the four crew members of the Southern Pacific trains were killed. She said all were from Sanderson, Texas. Identifications were not immediately available. The engines of the two trains caught fire, and at least seven cars carrying furniture derailed. Depart ment of Public Safety spokeswoman Laureen Chemow said the fire was making it difficult for emergency crews to extract the bodies of the dead crew members. Several cars also contained haz ardous chemicals, but those re mained on the tracks. Following an aerial review, the DPS confirmed that there were no leaks of haz ardous chemicals. Beard said. The trains collided after 9 a.m. on sparsely populated ranch land about 5 miles east of Marathon, which is 230 miles southeast of El Paso. One train was traveling east- bound from Long Beach, Calif., to Houston while the other was west bound from Memphis, Tenn., to Long Beach, said Mike Furtney, a spokesman for San Francisco-based Southern Pacific. Furtney said both trains were carrying various types of hazardous materials, including paint, peroxide and petroleum distillates. Hazardous materials crews and other officials with Southern Pacific traveled to the scene from Denver, El Paso and Houston, Furtney said. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and federal and state railroad officials also headed to the scene. Furtney said Southern Pacific officials did not know how both trains wound up on the same tracks. ‘1 think it’ll take a while to fig- ure that out,” he said. “There’s a lot of information to go through. They’ll certainly do a careful inves tigation and a very thorough one.” Furtney said the hazardous ma terials were in containers on board regular railroad cars. The train was not pulling any tanker cars. sue televangelist DALLAS (AP) — A state judge delayed trial Monday ii the lawsuit filed by three groups of Dallas residents who former televangelist Robert Tilton lied to them when he i n’t deliver miracles. The groups accuse Tilton of conspiracy, fraud and inten tional infliction of emotional distress. The trial was scheduled to begin Monday, but the judg granted requests from Tilton’s lawyers for a continuance un til some time in November. Vicki Crenshaw says Tilton promised her mother, Marj Turk, a cure for cancer. Ms. Turk died after the suit was filed “It was his (Tilton’s) influence that prevented her fron seeking medical care,” Ms. Crenshaw said. “She heard Rober Tilton say she had a miracle coming then refused to go.” The other plaintiffs in the suit include a Dallas couple am a Dallas woman. The couple, who had lost custody of thei children, said they believed Tilton would help return thei children to them, according to the suit. The woman said she gave Tilton money and even fool stamps, but that the minister didn’t improve her condition. Tilton called the allegations nonsense and a plot to den] his right to practice religion. “Forget whether you like me or not, prayer is on trial here,” he said outside the courtroom. “They’ve taken prayer out of schools, now they’re trying to take prayer off of television.” Tilton has been sued 11 times, although some lawsuits have been thrown out. ”In April, a Dallas judge ruled that Tilton defrauded a Florida couple. Tilton had to pay them $500,000 in actual damages and $1 million in punitive damages, the judge ruled with his genitals exposed. The following incidents were reported to Univer sity Police Department between July 12 and 20: Aggravated Assault Chemistry Fountain mall - A woman was walking by the fountain near the Chemistry Building when a man struck her in the head from behind. The man then reached his arm around her and cut her forehead with a sharp knife or razor. The woman was transported to a local medical facility by TAMU EMS personnel for treatment. fication of the police. When the woman ran to a resident director's room, the man fled. Texas A&M emergency medical personnel treated the woman for a bruise to the lip, swelling and discol oration of the left eye and temple, as well as bruis es on both sides of her neck. Criminal charges are pending. Driving While Intoxicated Various Campus Locations - Four intoxicated mo torists were arrested. Felony Theft Kyle Field - Nine wooden stencils were stolen from Kyle Field. Assault Polo Road - While jogging on Polo Road, a person was struck with an egg that was thrown from a passing automobile. Assaull/Criminal Mischief Rudder Hall - A woman was struck in the face and choked by a male acquaintance. The man also damaged a telephone answering machine when he ripped the telephone from the wall to prevent noti- Indecent Exposure/Assault Sterling C. Evans Library - A person was touched in an inappropriate manner by a man who was lat er observed with his genitals exposed. Criminal Mischief Parking Area 30 - The right headlight was broken out, all four tires were deflated and a sharp instru ment was used to scratch the left side of a 1990 Dodge pickup truck. Parking Area 11 - A man reported someone used a sharp instrument to scratch both sides of his 1993 Ford Ranger. Various Campus Locations - Three bicycles wer stolen. MSC - A newspaper vending machine was stolen from the east entrance of the building. Chemistry Building - Several people were ob served removing the sprinkler heads from the irri gation system on the south side of the Chemistry Building. Research Park - The letters M and U were stolen from a sign at the intersection of Hwy. 60 and 2818. Indecent Exposure Research Park - A person observed an individual Criminal Trespass Rudder Tower - A woman was in the restroom when she became aware of a man’s presence. She yelled at him, and he fled. Misdemeanor Theft Alleged Misdemeanor Theft Sterling C. Evans Library - A person observed two people carrying backpacks and running through the exit. When they passed the electronic sensors, the alarm activated. Although it is not known if any library material was stolen, the activation of the alarm may indicate a theft. Burglary of Building Turbomachinery Laboratory - A color monitor was stolen from a second floor room. HEALTHY MALES WANTED AS SEMEN DONORS MSC Dinner Theatre & Aggie Players Help infertile couples; confidentially ensured. Ethnic diversity desirable, ages 18 to 35, excellent compensation. Fairfax Cryobank 1121 Briarcrest Dr., Suite 101 Bryan 776-4453 Pinchpenny A Phantom present: The Battalion MARK EVANS, Editor in chief Tuesday By Will The Bat SAN the 100 all the ^ last ses same. If ev< inoveme further coach Jf Pard< ate, smi at the C discusse ed to fa Ri< sh( Oi MARK Sports 0* one of . players. They product “Buck-y they thi game. He i Richarc football 1 A Murder Mystery Musical of the Opera WILLIAM HARRISON, Managing editor ANAS BEN-MUSA, Night News editor SUSAN OWEN, Night News editor MICHELE BRINKMANN, City editor JAY ROBBINS, Opinion editor STEWART MILNE, Photo editor MARK SMITH, Sports editor WILLIAM HARRISON, Agg/e/iTeeditor Jack Sharkey & Dave Reiser July 28 — 30 and August 4 — 6 Rudder Forum at 8:00 P.M. Dinner in Rudder Exhibit Hall at 6:30 P.M. Dinner Tickets must be bought 48 In Advance Staff Members City desk— James Bernsen, Stacey Fehlis, Amanda Fowle, Jan Higginbotham, Ellie Hudson, Sara Israwi, Christine Johnson, Craig Lewis, Angela St. John Parker and Tracy Smith News desk— Kari Rose, Sterling Hayman and Stacy Stanton Photographers— J.D. Jacoby, Jennie Mayer and Bart Mitchell AggieUfe— Traci Travis, Christi Erwin, Jennifer Gressett, Jeremy Keddie, Warren Mayberry, and Paul Neale Sports writers— losh Arterbury, Brian Coats and Constance Parten Opinion desk— Chris Cobb, Josef Elchanan, Erin Hill, George Nasr, Jim Pawlikowski, Elizabeth Preston, Frank Stanford and Julia Stavenhagen ( Cartoonists— Boomer Cardinale, David Deen and Jos6 Luis de Juan Clerks— Michelle Oleson and Elizabeth Preston Writing Coach— Timm Doolen Tickets Available at Rcidder Box Office, 845-1234 The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer sessions (except University holidays and exam periods), at Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. 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