For at least a decade, Corpus Christi sold water to a handful of large industrial plants at a steeply discounted rate, according to documents and interviews with city officials. Residents and businesses paid more than $100 million to subsidize water for some of the world\u2019s richest energy companies, the city\u2019s rate models show.<\/p>\n
kAm%9C66 J62CD 28@[ r@CAFD r9C:DE: 5@F3=65 E96 4@>A2?:6D\u2019 H2E6C C2E6D \ud83d\ude15 2? 677@CE E@ 4@CC64E E96 :>32=2?46] qFE E96 4@>A2?:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 ‘2=6C@[ r:E8@ 2?5 {J@?56==q2DD6==[ AC@E6DE65 E@ DE2E6 C68F=2E@CD[ DA2C<:?8 2 =682= 32EE=6 E92E H:== 4@>6 E@ 2 9625 2D 2 AF3=:4 962C:?8 @G6C E96 >2EE6C 368:?D \ud83d\ude15 7C@?E @7 2? :?56A6?56?E DE2E6 286?4J \ud83d\ude15 pFDE:?]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%96 @FE4@>6 H:== 92G6 >2;@C :>A=:42E:@?D 7@C r@CAFD r9C:DE:[ H9:49 \ud83d\ude00 724:?8 2? F?AC64656?E65 H2E6C DFAA=J 4C:D:D[ 2D H6== 2D E96 6?6C8J 4@>A2?:6D E92E 92G6 =@?8 5@>:?2E65 :ED 64@?@>J] x7 E96 4@>A2?:6D AC6G2:=[ r@CAFD 4@F=5 36 7@C465 E@ C67F?5 E96> E6?D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD 6G6? 2D :E 56DA6C2E6=J D666CD]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm\u201cx\u2019> 9@=5:?8 >J 3C62E9[\u201d D2:5 $J=G:2 r2>A@D[ 2 r:EJ r@F?4:= >6>36C H9@ 42>A2:8?65 @? C2:D:?8 :?5FDEC:2= H2E6C C2E6D] \u201c{6E\u2019D 9@A6 E92E H6 5@?\u2019E 92G6 E@ A2J E96> 324<]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n
kAm’2=6C@[ r:E8@ 2?5 {J@?56==q2DD6==[ H9:49 3FJ H2E6C 5:C64E=J 7C@> r@CAFD r9C:DE:\u2019D H2E6C FE:=:EJ E@ @A6C2E6 @:= C67:?6C:6D 2?5 A6EC@496>:42= A=2?ED ;FDE @FED:56 4:EJ =:>:ED[ 4@>>6?E65 E9C@F89 2? :?5FDECJ 8C@FA E96J 92G6 7@C>65 42==65 p77@C523=6 (2E6C 7@C r@CAFD r9C:DE:]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm\u201c%96 :DDF6 367@C6 E96 !F3=:4 &E:=:EJ r@>>:DD:@? \ud83d\ude00 H96E96C E96 4:EJ\u2019D C2E6D H6C6 56G6=@A65 FD:?8 2 72:C[ 6G:56?46\\32D65 2?5 =682==J 4@>A=:2?E >6E9@5@=@8J[\u201d D2:5 w62E9 pC>DEC@?8[ 2 =2HJ6C 7@C E96 8C@FA]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmr2>A@D C6DA@?565i \u201c%96J @H G6CJ H6== 9@H =@?8 E96J\u2019G6 8@EE6? 2H2J H:E9 ?@E A2J:?8 E96:C 72:C D92C6]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%96 :?5FDECJ 8C@FA\u2019D 2C8F>6?ED 7@C =@H6C H2E6C C2E6D 2C6 DA6==65 @FE \ud83d\ude15 E9@FD2?5D @7 A286D @7 5@4F>6?ED 7:=65 H:E9 E96 !F3=:4 &E:=:EJ r@>>:DD:@? @7 %6I2D[ 2 DE2E6 C68F=2E@C 962565 3J 2 A2?6= @7 8F36C?2E@C:2= 2AA@:?E66D] x? @?6 7:=:?8[ 2 4@?DF=E2?E HC@E6 E92E E96 8C@FA\u2019D >6>36CD D9@F=5 86E 2 5:D4@F?E 7@C H2E6C 3642FD6 E96J D9@F=5?\u2019E 92G6 E@ A2J 7@C \u201c5:DEC:3FE:@? :?7C2DECF4EFC6 E96J 5@ ?@E @H?[ >2:?E2:?[ @C 36?67:E 7C@> \ud83d\ude15 E96 D2>6 H2J 2D :?D:56\\4:EJ FD6CD]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n
kAmz2>:= %2C2D[ E96 4:EJ\u2019D 2DD:DE2?E 5:C64E@C 7@C 7:?2?46 2?5 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ D2:5 E92E\u2019D ?@E E96 42D6] x?5FDEC:2= 724:=:E:6D 36?67:E 7C@> E96 6?E:C6 H2E6C 5:DEC:3FE:@? DJDE6> E92E E96 4:EJ\u2019D H2E6C FE:=:EJ >2?286D[ 96 D2:5[ ?@E ;FDE E96 A@CE:@? @FED:56 4:EJ =:>:ED E92E 4@??64ED E96> E@ :ED EC62E>6?E A=2?E]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm\u201c%96J ;FDE H2?E E@ A2J 7@C E96 @?6 D:?8=6 =:?6 E92E E96J\u2019C6 4@??64E65 E@[ 2?5 E92E\u2019D :E[\u201d %2C2D D2:5[ C676CC:?8 E@ E96 4@>A2?:6D\u2019 2C8F>6?E] \u201cxE 5@6D?\u2019E H@C< =:<6 E92E \ud83d\ude15 E96 >F?:4:A2= H2E6C H@C=5]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n
kAmt2C=:6C E9:D J62C[ E96 4@>A2?:6D 56>2?565 E92E r@CAFD r9C:DE: C67F?5 2=>@DE Sg_ >:==:@? @7 E96:C H2E6C\\C2E6 :?4C62D6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C646?E 4:EJ >6>@ E92E DF>>2C:K65 E96 FE:=:EJ 4@>>:DD:@? 7:=:?8D] %96 4@>>:DD:@?\u2019D DE277 E96? =@@<65 2E E96 6G:56?46 D6A2C2E6=J 2?5 C64@>>6?565 2 C67F?5 @7 ;FDE Se >:==:@?[ E96 4:EJ >6>@ 6IA=2:?D]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%2C2D D2:5 E96 :?5FDECJ 4@2=:E:@? =65 3J ‘2=6C@ C646?E=J @776C65 E@ D6EE=6 E96 42D6 7@C Sc >:==:@?[ 3FE E96 4:EJ 49@D6 ?@E E@ D6EE=6 2?5 :?DE625 E@ 8@ E@ E96 ?6IE DE6Ai 2 AF3=:4 962C:?8 E92E H:== C6D6>3=6 2 EC:2= 2E 2? 286?4J 42==65 E96 $E2E6 ~77:46 @7 p5>:?:DEC2E:G6 w62C:?8D]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmpE E92E 962C:?8[ H9:49 H:== E2<6 A=246 @G6C E9C66 52JD E9:D H66<[ r@CAFD r9C:DE: @77:4:2=D 2?5 E96 4@>A2?:6D H:== 2C8F6 E96:C C6DA64E:G6 A@D:E:@?D \ud83d\ude15 7C@?E @7 2 DE2E6 @77:4:2= 42==65 2? 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 =2H ;F586] %96 ;F586 H:== E96? >2<6 2 C64@>>6?52E:@?[ 3FE E96 7:?2= D2J C6DED H:E9 E96 FE:=:E:6D 4@>>:DD:@?]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm!6E6C +2?@?:[ r@CAFD r9C:DE:\u2019D 4:EJ >2?286C[ D2:5 96 9@A6D E96 4:EJ 42? AC6D6CG6 E96 C2E6 :?4C62D6D 3642FD6 \u201cE96 =2C86 :?5FDECJ \ud83d\ude00 ?@E A2J:?8 E96:C 72:C D92C6\u201d 7@C H2E6C]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmw6 25565[ \u201cxE\u2019D ?@E 72:C E@ E96 C6E:C65 72>:=J @C E96 92C5H@C<:?8 72>:=J E92E >:89E 92G6 @?6 A2C6?E 2?5 EH@[ E9C66 ;@3D 7@C E96> E@ DFAA@CE >F=E:3:==:@?\\5@==2C 4@CA@C2E:@?D 2?5 A2J E96:C H2E6C 3:==D]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n
kAmtG6? 2D E96J\u2019C6 36:?8 492==6?865 @? E96 C2E6 :?4C62D6D E96J 2=C625J :>A=6>6?E65[ r@CAFD r9C:DE: @77:4:2=D D2J E96J\u2019== 92G6 E@ 4@?E:?F6 C2:D:?8 C2E6D E@ A2J 7@C 2 9@DE @7 ?6H H2E6C AC@;64ED] xE\u2019D 2 4@>>@? ?665 24C@DD %6I2Di %96 DE2E6\u2019D =2E6DE H2E6C A=2?[ C6=62D65 \ud83d\ude15 |2J[ 6DE:>2E65 :E 4@F=5 4@DE %6I2?D S`fc 3:==:@? E@ 2G@:5 H2E6C D9@CE286D \ud83d\ude15 E96 ?6IE d_ J62CD]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm\u201c%96 @?=J E9:?8 E92E\u2019D <66A:?8 %6I2D 7C@> >66E:?8 :ED H2E6C ?665D \ud83d\ude00 >@?6J[\u201d #6AF3=:42? DE2E6 $6?] r92C=6D !6CCJ[ 492:C @7 E96 $6?2E6 (2E6C[ p8C:4F=EFC6 2?5 #FC2= p772:CD r@>>:EE66[ D2:5 5FC:?8 2 962C:?8 \ud83d\ude15 |2J]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm!6CCJ >256 :E 4=62C E92E >2?J 4@>>F?:E:6D ?665 E@ 36 AC6A2C65 E@ A2J 2 =@E >@C6 7@C H2E6C[ >2J36 6G6? \u201c5@F3=6 H92E H6\u2019C6 A2J:?8] qFE E92E\u2019D E96 4@DE @7 ?6H H2E6C \ud83d\ude15 %6I2D[\u201d 96 D2:5]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmr@CAFD r9C:DE: 4:EJ @77:4:2=D D2J E92E\u2019D 6I24E=J H92E E96J\u2019G6 366? ECJ:?8 E@ 5@] p?5 E96J\u2019G6 7@4FD65 @? =2C86 :?5FDEC:2= FD6CD 3642FD6 E9@D6 4@>A2?:6D H6C6 7@C J62CD A2J:?8 2 72C =@H6C C2E6 7@C H2E6C E92? >@DE C6D:56?E:2= 2?5 3FD:?6DD 4@?DF>6CD]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmx? a_`e[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ E96 4@>A2?:6D \u2014 4@==64E:G6=J C676CC65 E@ 2D \u201c~r{ W@FED:56 4:EJ =:>:EDX =2C86\\G@=F>6 4FDE@>6CD\u201d \u2014 A2:5 23@FE Sa A6C `[___ 82==@?D @7 H2E6C[ H9:=6 >2?J @E96C C6D:56?E:2= 2?5 4@>>6C4:2= 4FDE@>6CD :?D:56 E96 4:EJ A2:5 E9C66 E:>6D E92E C2E6] p== E96 C2E6D H6?E 5@H? D=:89E=J @G6C E96 ?6IE 76H J62CD[ 4:EJ 52E2 D9@H[ 3FE E96 5:DA2C:E:6D A6CD:DE65]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmx? a_ab[ E96 4:EJ 4@>>:DD:@?65 2 DEF5J E@ 56E6C>:?6 :7 E9@D6 C2E6D H6C6 2? 244FC2E6 C67=64E:@? @7 E96 2>@F?E @7 >@?6J r@CAFD r9C:DE: DA6?E D6?5:?8 H2E6C E@ 5:776C6?E EJA6D @7 4FDE@>6CD] %96 4:EJ H2?E65 E@ @Hi xD :E 24EF2==J 4962A6C E@ AC@G:56 H2E6C E@ E96 =2C86 :?5FDEC:2= A=2?ED[ H9:49 4@F=5 ;FDE:7J E96:C =@H6C C2E6nk^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%96 2?DH6C H2D 2 C6D@F?5:?8 ?@] x? 2 AC6D6?E2E:@? E@ r:EJ r@F?4:= >6>36CD[ E96 DEF5J\u2019D 2FE9@CD HC@E6 E92E \u201c{2C86 ‘@=F>6 H2D F?56C\\C64@G6C:?8 :ED 4@DE @7 D6CG:46\u201d 3J S`d >:==:@?] x? @E96C H@C5D[ E96 4:EJ H2D =@D:?8 S`d >:==:@? 2 J62C AC@G:5:?8 H2E6C E@ :ED 3:886DE :?5FDEC:2= FD6CD] $>2==6C 4@>>6C4:2= 3FD:?6DD6D[ @? E96 @E96C 92?5[ H6C6 @G6CA2J:?8 7@C H2E6C 3J 23@FE Sh >:==:@?[ E96 DEF5J 7@F?5]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmu@C +2?@?:[ E96 DEF5J 4@?7:C>65 H92E 96 925 =@?8 DFDA64E65 \u2014 6G6? 7C@> 9:D 52JD \ud83d\ude15 $2? p?E@?:@[ H96C6 96 H@C<65 367@C6 364@>:?8 r@CAFD r9C:DE:\u2019D 4:EJ >2?286C]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm\u201cu@=6 \ud83d\ude15 $2? p?E@?:@ E92E @?6 :DDF6 \ud83d\ude15 r@CAFD r9C:DE: \ud83d\ude00 E92E E96 =2C86 :?5FDECJ \ud83d\ude00 ?@E A2J:?8 E96:C 72:C D92C6[\u201d 96 D2:5] \u201cp?5 E96 C6D:56?ED 2?5 E96 4@>>6C4:2= 244@F?ED 2C6 A2J:?8 E96 3FC56? 7@C H2E6C 7@C :?5FDECJ]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n
kAm$@ \ud83d\ude15 E96 72== @7 a_ab[ r@CAFD r9C:DE:\u2019D r:EJ r@F?4:= 28C665 E@ 5@F3=6 H2E6C C2E6D 7@C E96 D6=64E 8C@FA @7 =2C86\\G@=F>6 FD6CD E92E 925 =@?8 6?;@J65 2 5:D4@F?E] %96 492?86 \u201c32D:42==J 4@CC64E65 E92E F?56C\\4@==64E:@?[\u201d 244@C5:?8 E@ %2>2D[ E96 4:EJ\u2019D 2DD:DE2?E 7:?2?46 5:C64E@C]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%96 ?6H C2E6D C2:D65 ‘2=6C@\u2019D 2??F2= H2E6C 3:== 7C@> Sh >:==:@? E@ S`g >:==:@?[ %2C2D D2:5]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%96 G@E6 3J r:EJ r@F?4:= H2D g\\E@\\` \ud83d\ude15 72G@C[ ?@E23=6 \ud83d\ude15 2 4:EJ H96C6 :?5FDEC:2= 8:2?ED =@@> =2C86 @G6C =@42= A@=:E:4D] $:I >@?E9D =2E6C[ E96 4@>A2?:6D 7:=65 E96:C AC@E6DE]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmr@F?4:= |6>36C #@=2?5 q2CC6C2[ H9@ 42DE E96 D@=6 G@E6 282:?DE[ D2:5 \ud83d\ude15 2? :?E6CG:6H 96 28C665 E92E E96 :?5FDEC:2= H2E6C C2E6 ?66565 E@ C:D6[ 3FE ?@E D@ DE66A=J 2?5 DF556?=J]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm\u201c|J @3;64E:@? H2D E@ E96 5C2DE:4 :?4C62D6 E92E H6 :>A=6>6?E65 @?6 J62C E@ 2?@E96C[\u201d 96 D2:5] \u201cx7 H6 H2?E E@ C6>2:? 2 >2?F724EFC:?8 4@>>F?:EJ[ H9:49 H6\u2019G6 366? 7@C @G6C f_ J62CD[ H6 92G6 E@ 92G6 D@>6 =6G6= @7 AC65:4E23:=:EJ]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n
kAmq2CC6C2 D2:5 E96 5:D4@F?E65 :?5FDEC:2= H2E6C C2E6D H6C6 :?E6?565[ \ud83d\ude15 A2CE[ E@ 96=A r@CAFD r9C:DE: 2EEC24E :?G6DE>6?E 7C@> 4@>A2?:6D E92E 3F:=5 E9:CDEJ 724:=:E:6D =:<6 C67:?6C:6D @C 496>:42= A=2?ED] ~E96CH:D6[ 96 D2:5[ E96J >:89E 92G6 49@D6? E@ =@42E6 \ud83d\ude15 =2C86C A6EC@496>:42= 4@>A=6I6D @7 C68:@?D H:E9 >@C6 23F?52?E H2E6C[ =:<6 w@FDE@? @C {@F:D:2?2]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%96 4@>A2?:6D 92G6 2C8F65 E92E E96J 56D6CG6 E96 5:D4@F?E 3642FD6 E96J\u2019C6 \ud83d\ude15 >F49 4=@D6C AC@I:>:EJ E@ r@CAFD r9C:DE:\u2019D H2E6C EC62E>6?E A=2?E 2?5 E96C67@C6 5@?\u2019E FD6 2D >F49 @7 :ED 5:DEC:3FE:@? DJDE6> 2D @E96C 4@?DF>6CD]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmqFE E92E\u2019D ?@E 9@H H2E6C 56=:G6CJ H@C6E9:?8 H6C6 E@ >2=7F?4E:@? \ud83d\ude15 E96 H2E6C 5:DEC:3FE:@? A:A6D 2E @?6 6?5 @7 E96 4:EJ \u2014 D2J[ 2E 2 H2E6C E@H6C 72C 2H2J 7C@> ‘2=6C@ \u2014 E96 H2E6C AC6DDFC6 2== E96 H2J 2E E96 @E96C 6?5[ 2E E96 4@>A2?J\u2019D @:= C67:?6CJ[ H@F=5 2=D@ 36 :>A24E65]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmr@CAFD r9C:DE:\u2019D ?6H :?5FDEC:2= H2E6C C2E6D C67=64E 2? 6BF:E23=6 5:DEC:3FE:@? @7 4@DED[ +2?@?: D2:5[ 2?5 C6>@G6 E96 3FC56? @? D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D E92E 92G6 9:DE@C:42==J DF3D:5:K65 E96 3:8 4@CA@C2E:@?D]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm\u201c(6\u2019C6 86EE:?8 DF65 3642FD6 H6\u2019C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 492C86 2 72:C C2E6 E@ E96 3:8 :?5FDECJ[\u201d +2?@?: D2:5] \u201cx?5FDECJ \ud83d\ude15 E9:D 42D6 \ud83d\ude00 ?@E 36:?8 2 8@@5 A2CE?6C H:E9 E96 4:EJ]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n
kAmpG6CJ %9@>AD@? 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%9:D DE@CJ \ud83d\ude00 AF3=:D965 \ud83d\ude15 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 x?D:56 r=:>2E6 }6HD[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? E92E 4@G6CD 4=:>2E6[ 6?6C8J 2?5 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E[ 2?5 %6I2D }6HDC@@>[ 2 AF3=:4 C25:@ ;@FC?2=:D> 4@==23@C2E:@? E92E :?4=F56D }!#[ zt#p \ud83d\ude15 }@CE9 %6I2D[ w@FDE@? !F3=:4 |65:2[ z&% }6HD \ud83d\ude15 pFDE:? 2?5 %6I2D !F3=:4 #25:@ \ud83d\ude15 $2? p?E@?:@] $:8? FA 7@C E96 xr} ?6HD=6EE6C @?=:?6]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAms:D4=@DFC6i ‘2=6C@ 92D 366? 2 7:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE6C @7 %96 %6I2D %C:3F?6[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ ?@?A2CE:D2? ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? E92E \ud83d\ude00 7F?565 \ud83d\ude15 A2CE 3J 5@?2E:@?D 7C@> >6>36CD[ 7@F?52E:@?D 2?5 4@CA@C2E6 DA@?D@CD] u:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE6CD A=2J ?@ C@=6 \ud83d\ude15 %96 %6I2D %C:3F?6\u2019D ;@FC?2=:D>] u:?5 2 4@>A=6E6 =:DE @7 E96> @?=:?6]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%9:D 2CE:4=6 7:CDE 2AA62C65 @? %96 %6I2D %C:3F?6 H63D:E6]k^Am<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For at least a decade, Corpus Christi sold water to a handful of large industrial plants at a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":371862,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[155,157,156,27,98882],"class_list":["post-371861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-corpus-christi","tag-corpus-christi","tag-corpus-christi-headlines","tag-corpus-christi-news","tag-texas","tag-valero-energy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=371861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371861\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/371862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=371861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=371861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=371861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}