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Kansas Wind or Out-of-State Coal?

A bill introduced in the Kansas Legislature on Jan. 30 would smooth the way for construction of two huge new power plants in Holcomb, Kan. GPACE opposes this legislative initiative for these reasons:

· Proponents of the bill claim they want to encourage balanced energy generation. However, over 75% of Kansas electricity currently comes from coal, which must be imported to the state. Kansas is the 3rd windiest state in the nation, and only 1% of the state's electricity comes from wind. Balance would suggest another approach than that proposed by this bill.

· Proponents claim they represent Kansans, but poll after poll shows that two-thirds of Kansans support the state regulatory decision to deny air quality permits to a single coal-fired power plant, which would annually emit 11 million tons of carbon dioxide, a known greenhouse gas. Additionally, 75% of Kansans favor development of home-grown energy resources such as wind

· Proponents of the bill claim they want "regulatory certainty," yet partisan, elected legislators have crafted a bill in secret with the coal industry that ignores financial and regulatory trends being established by the U.S. government, Wall Street, major financial institutions, and other large utilities around the nation. True "regulatory certainty" would embrace a new paradigm for energy generation consistent with other states and nations that are acting now to reduce carbon emissions, and grow their renewable energy economies.

· If this bill becomes law, long-term energy policy for the entire state of Kansas will be determined by the needs of a single, financially troubled utility provider. This utility will be exporting 85% of the electricity generated to Colorado and Texas, leaving Kansas with an 11 million ton carbon liability every year, adverse health effects such as asthma and heart disease caused by coal-fired emissions, and reduced water supplies for agriculture and community drinking water. In addition, this bill strips the Kansas Department of Health and Environment of its ability to protect Kansans, present and future, and would make Kansas a dumping ground for polluting projects rejected by dozens of other states.

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