At this time three years ago, TXU Corp. planned to build 11 more traditional coal-fired power plants — the sort that are criticized for high levels of pollution.

The plans were part of a proposal to build up to 17 new coal-fired power plants in Texas. Gov. Rick Perry put the permitting process for these plants on a fast track.

The proposed surge in coal-fired power plants was fueled by reports from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas — ERCOT — that Texas needed the additional power generation quickly to meet increased demands.

Fortunately, a lot has changed since then.

A public backlash led by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, mayors, business leaders and others joined with environmental and health groups to oppose the great coal rush.

A group of investors purchased TXU and scaled back the company’s plans. They include only three new coal-fired power plants.

Texas lawmakers helped convince ERCOT that the council should factor energy conservation into its projections for future energy demand in Texas.

On another fronot, several new wind farm operations have been announced along with plans to build several less-polluting gas-fired power plants.

One wind farm operation planned by Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens is expected to produce more energy than several coal-fired power plants.

ERCOT now predicts that Texas’ power system has ample reserves to cope with peak demands through 2012 and perhaps even longer — a prediction that gives the state up to four extra years of breathing room.

As it turns out, the fast-track rush to build coal-fired power plants across Texas was premature and reckless.

While the state’s power use is expected to increase 4.4 percent to approximately 65,00 megawatts this summer, ERCOT now reports that Texas’ 10-year power demand growth forecast has been cut 15 percent due to several factors.

Texans lawmakers should continue to encourage the states’s utilities to emphasize energy conservation, an effort that reduces the need to build additional power plants.

Luminant, the power-producing portion of the old TXU Corp., is heavily involved in a number of new technologies designed to produce power with less pollution.

The company is investing in technology to turn carbon dioxide into baking soda and using algae to capture carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and produce a biodiesel by-product.

Also, Luminant is involved in a five-year research program with the University of Texas to develop a carbon management program.

The company has increased investments into alternative energy and compressed air storage.

In all, a great deal has improved over the past three years thanks in large measure to the many people who rose up in opposition to the rush to build coal-fired power plants across Texas.