About Us

Residents of north Lee County, Texas have come together to "Move the Gas Plant" away from the rural community of Blue in Lee County to a more appropriate location for a 1200 MW natural gas power generation plant.  The appropriate location for the proposed Sandow Lakes Energy plant is the old Alcoa industrial site, some 15 miles away. 

A dozen neighbors formed a Steering Committee to explore options for making this happen and ultimately decided to partner with Neighbors for Neighbors, Inc., a Lee County-based 501c3 charitable organization.  Neighbors for Neighbors, Inc. dba Move the Gas Plant has taken on this effort. 

Locating the gas plant in Blue would dramatically alter the rural nature of an historic community. Located at the intersection of CR 309 and 312, the proposed site is on a strip of Sandow Lakes Ranch that extends into north Lee County.   

The site is bordered by private farms, ranches and homes, and is very near the Adina Christian Church which was founded by an ancestor of a close neighbor to the power plant site.

Negative impacts of the gas plant likely would at least include decreased property values in the Blue community; increased noise, lights and traffic;  groundwater and surface water impacts; air pollution harmful to human health; and unreasonable burdens on our first responders. 

The plant would have far fewer negative impacts in a less populated area.  If the plant were built amid the 33,000-acre Sandow Lakes Ranch property in Milam County at the site of the old Alcoa aluminum smelter and coal power plants, it would be sited far from any private farms, ranches and homes.  

Join us in working to make common sense a reality.  Why destroy a lovely rural Texas community when a much more suitable and feasible site for the proposed gas plant is nearby?   

 We’ve launched a legal challenge to the air emissions permit  the gas plant needs to operate in our community of many affected residents.  That's an expensive proposition so we need the support of our communities and the support of other rural communities who may face the same challenges. We are pursuing all sources of funding, but there is no substitute for the grass-roots funding we need as our foundation.  PLEASE SEE OUR DONATE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION. In addition  to donating, check the EVENTS page for any  current fundraisers, including our Summer 2025 Raffle.

 Please help us let our state know that rural communities cannot be taken for granted, and that we treasure our rural roots and will work hard to preserve them.  If we do nothing, the result is assured --- join us now to make a difference! We can't do it without the support of local residents and landowners who should not have to have their considerable financial and personal investments in Blue marginalized. Share this website with your neighbors --- we strive to get the word out, but you can help us deliver this message:

Efforts by MTGP already have had a major impact on SLE’s plans.  If MTGP had not organized and taken action, SLE likely would already have its air permit from TCEQ and would be constructing its gas plant right now.  But all that was delayed many months when MTGP:

• Hired a law firm and air quality expert,
• Requested TCEQ require a contested case hearing,
• Submitted to TCEQ many serious questions about deficiencies in SLE’s air permit application.

As a result, it’s possible SLE’s efforts to obtain an air permit might extend well into 2026 or beyond.  Many issues could arise during such a long delay, ones that might help derail this project.

Click on the frequently-updated RESOURCES page for background information and please GO TO OUR "DONATE!" PAGE NOW. Contact Us from the HOME page-- we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Move the Gas Plant Steering Committee:

Travis Brown                                                            Jeri Matthys                                               Kourtney Jirasek 

Michele Gangnes                                                   Hugh Brown                                               Bill Davis

Sheril Smith                                                              Georgia Canfield                                     Susan Davis

Don Goerner                                                            Serena Formby                                         Kevin Drake

Ward Taylor                                                             Trish Siler                                                    Julie Drake

Lynn Cain                                                                 Clark Johnson                                           Tonya Leslie

Rachel Cain Bailey                                                 David Goodwin                                         Brian Dickey

Lisa Moore                                                                Sylvia Soto

Cathy Campbell                                                     Ed Harvey