Dallas Morning News - Editorial
A Clearing in the Haze: Innovative plan puts kiln's money to green use
06:56 AM CST on Wednesday, January 30, 2008

What began as a bitter battle over pollution will culminate tonight with a celebration of clean-air efforts.

The Sue Pope Fund will announce grants that will pay for six pollution-reducing projects. That's good news under any circumstances, but most notable about these awards is the source of the funds – cement manufacturer Holcim.

The back story spans a decade and begins with local groups' efforts to protest cement kiln permits. Though the environmental groups didn't stop the kiln's expansion, they eventually won a unique settlement that called for additional pollution controls and compelled Holcim to pay $2.25 million.

The money was used to create a first-of-its-kind clean-air endowment. After receiving 27 grant applications, Downwinders At Risk, which administers the fund, has selected six ventures aimed at clearing our pollution-choked air.

Under this innovative plan, Holcim's money will pay for cleaner taxicabs, electric lawnmowers and green construction projects. To its credit, Downwinders also is working to raise matching funds so that the endowment can be sustained over the long term.

Local environmental groups have fought plenty of losing battles against polluting industries. Given the state's inclination to side with business interests, the Holcim case could have been another defeat.

But this time, environmentalists' persistence and a willingness to forge a compromise yielded a different kind of victory – one that could bring widespread benefits. This type of environmental philanthropy still is a relatively new concept, but it's a good reminder that as we work to reduce pollution, government can't do it all.

In this case, environmental groups can do plenty of good – with an assist from a cement kiln.

WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO?

The first round of grants awarded by the Sue Pope Fund will go to six projects:

1. Replacing 325 conventional cabs with hybrid taxis.
2. Constructing energy-efficient, affordable housing in Dallas' Fair Park area.
3. Creating the Sustainable Community Institute.
4. Offering discounted electric lawnmowers to replace more polluting gas-powered mowers.
5. Improving infrastructure for the McKinney Avenue Trolley.
6. Bringing the first hybrid school buses to North Texas.

Today's announcement will be at 6 p.m. at The Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art.

THE SUE POPE FUND
NORTH TEXAS POLLUTION REDUCTION PROGRAM
PO Box 763844
Dallas, TX 75376
Office 972.296.9400 - Fax 972.296.9492 - Email