Seven votes short of potentially over-riding Gov. Sebelius’ veto, the Kansas House has passed legislation allowing two new coal-fired power plants in western Kansas. This is quite possibly the latest answer to that whiny question I usually hate (as a Kansan) – “What’s the matter with Kansas?”
What’s the matter is that Bloody Kansas has again become a battleground between those looking forward and those stuck in the past – those who see an inevitable cap on greenhouse gas emissions and the possibility of a clean energy future versus those tangled up in dirty habits with deep pockets.
So deep in fact that the plants developers have cut a deal with Kansas State University for a 10-year, $2.5 million energy research program if the coal plants are built. (I can already imagine the Peabody Coal Co. blimps floating over the Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium the day of the big game. Oh wait, no, I can’t… there’s something dirty in the air obstructing my view and my breath, and oddly, I had to cut the sleeves off my favorite KSU sweatshirt – it just got unusually warm for this time of year…)
Shameless yet shameful, to bribe even education. Now if you ask me, that’s a hefty insult to the Midwestern values I grew up to pride.
The bottom line is, these plants are no good for Kansas. At this point, it almost seems symbolic that coal and anti-coal advocates continue this fight. For Kansans, it’s not difficult to see that there are better options for energy, job creation, economic development, etc. First of all…
The energy demand is simply not there – not in Kansas, and while Kansas would house these plants, Colorado would receive 85 percent of their generated electricity. (It’s also worth noting that Colorado has adopted a renewable electricity standard, meaning even the consumer of these coal plants is ahead of the curve in terms of cleaning their energy sources and dampening demand for dirty coal.)
Plus, the job creation potential of coal is dwarfed by the wind and solar industries‘ economic stimulation potential.
On top of that:
The only people behind the proposed coal-plants are the utilities and industry reps who would make money off of them. Nothing about this legislation and nothing about these plants is in the best interest of Kansans, and most know that intuitively, despite the propaganda being thrown at them and other voters.
Next, the Kansas House and Senate will try to conference legislation to win those additional seven votes. Not to say they would have worthwhile legislation afterwards. So I am stuck here desperately convincing myself that something about a ‘Lucky 7‘ will keep Kansas clean… Expanding the Holcomb coal plants would be a devastating, backpeddling move for national progress on global warming and energy policy.
Great post Kari!
I too am originally from Kansas and have the hope that our native state will realize its clean energy potential. I wanted to note that students were a major part of killing this coal plant the first time that the KDHE denied the permit. Students turned out in record numbers to public hearings. Students at the University of Kansas are still organizing but need some help from youth across the country. If you can offer any best practices to these students email me and I can connect you.
We have to stop this dirty coal plant!
-Ethan
ethan@chesapeakeclimate.org