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Port Arthur council presses ahead with lease talks for Diligence Offshore wind project amid public debate over jobs and environment
Summary
Council members reiterated that a pending lease — not project approvals — is what’s before the City; public commenters urged both approval for jobs and closer scrutiny on environmental and compliance questions.
Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Barty and the City Council spent more than an hour on Feb. 25 addressing public concern about a proposed ground lease for Diligence Offshore Services LLC that would allow development of wind and solar generation facilities on Pleasure Island.
The council and city attorneys said the item before them is a lease agreement, not final approval of construction. Council members repeatedly stressed that any actual construction, permitting and environmental review would come later and involve other state and federal agencies.
Councilman Trey Doucette said the distinction mattered. “The only thing that I, as a councilman, is concerned with, if we’re going to lease the property … then we should check that individual,” Doucette said. “When we lease it, the city is protected and not held liable.”
Supporters who spoke at the podium said…
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