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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.
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Stew Milne/THE Battalion
Where is the restroom?
Fui
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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
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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
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