"Although no one should seriously believe that climate change could occur over a span of five days, as depicted in the movie, an increasing number of climate scientists are taking seriously the notion that climate change may occur more rapidly than previously assumed," Chris Brown said.

Brown, of San Antonio, is a researcher on water issues for the group.

At a news conference in front of the Alamo Quarry Cinemas, Brown and two Public Citizen researchers from Austin released a 16-page report that focuses the global warming debate on Texas.

Global warming is predicted as worldwide carbon dioxide levels increase due to industrialization. Scientists theorize higher carbon dioxide levels could produce what they describe as a "greenhouse effect" that could melt the Earth's polar icecaps.

The Public Citizen report lists 10 warning signs for global warming that already are occurring, according to the nonpartisan Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and it details some of the effects that already have occurred in Texas.

"In its most recent report, published in 2001, the IPCC estimated that surface temperatures could rise up to 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit over this century and sea levels could rise nearly three feet," said Joe Rideout of Public Citizen's Austin office.

Brown and Rideout also reiterated Public Citizen's opposition to City Public Service's plan to build a $1 billion coal-fired power plant by 2009, claiming the facility "will add more fuel to the fire" by increasing carbon dioxide levels over Texas' already overheated sky by 1 percent.

"You could take that $1 billion and buy more energy-efficient appliances for the residents of this community," Brown said, arguing that investment coupled with energy conservation would offset the need for the new plant.

CPS officials countered that the 750-megawatt plant is being built because it is cheaper to produce electricity with coal than with natural gas. Not only are ratepayers demanding cheaper electricity, the utility expects its customer base to grow by 33 percent over the next decade.

Joe Fulton, CPS' director of research and environmental management, said it's ludicrous to think $1 billion would buy enough energy efficiency to offset the need for the plant.

"Our peak energy demand comes at 5 p.m., when everybody gets home from work and turns up their air conditioners, not at night, when people turn on their lights," he said.

He added it would take six times that amount, or more, to outfit every customer with energy-efficient air conditioners and light bulbs, as proposed. Even then, the energy savings likely wouldn't be enough to offset the need for the new plant.