Kansas Governor Continues to Reject Dirty Coal-fired Power Plants
Last Friday, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius vetoed a bill proposed by the state assembly to grant Sunflower Electric the necessary air permit to construct two 700-megawatt coal-fired power plants. Governor Sebelius’ administration first denied the air permit back in October due to concerns over global warming pollution emissions.
Unwilling to take no for an answer, the state assembly has proposed a bill that not only allows the construction of the power plants, but also restricts the Secretary of Health and Environment’s ability to deny air permits and prevents the secretary from issuing new emission standards without the approval of the (not-so-green) legislature.
The assembly is currently deciding whether it will try to override the veto (which requires a 2/3 majority) or draft a new bill. In an effort to pass the bill, supporters included environmental concessions such as requiring investor-owned utilities to use renewable sources to generate 10% of their electricity by 2012, ramping up to 20% by 2020. But even this requirement will not outweigh the estimated 11 million tons of annual greenhouse gas pollution generated by the two proposed power plants.
Adding to the equation, Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, a group that assess and quantifies hidden risks and value, released a report yesterday that concluded Sunflower's proposed power plants put ratepayers at significant financial risk due to pending global warming legislation, energy alternatives, and rising construction costs. The report concluded that these three factors will cost rate payers between $22.4 and $51.4 million annually at a carbon price of $21-48 per ton.
With cleaner energy alternatives and growing concern and awareness of global warming, coal is becoming an untenable and spoofable energy option.
Take action on global warming by urging your Representative to cosponsor the Waxman Safe Climate Act, a bill that mandates an 80% reduction in global warming emissions by 2050!
Calling for 2 Minute Issue Films
An unprecedented consortium of global media and cause organizations, including Sierra Club, MySpace, MTV, AFI, The United Nations, and the Humane Society, are hosting a global competition for 2 minute films by anyone ages 14 to 24 that address pressing contemporary issues.
The deadline for submission is April 14, 2008, and prizes include internships at USA Today, United Nations, PBS' P.O.V Series, $5,000 from The Gates Foundation, and a profile on MTV News. The winning video will be distributed on the Associated Press online video network, broadcasted on STARZ, and posted on the homepage of MySpace.
The competition seeks to determine burning issues among young adults, engage them in domestic and global issues, and encourage them to add their voices to the public dialogue.
Visit http://www.filmyourissue.com/ for more information.
Do You Own Your Own Business? Get on Board with Solar!
Vote Solar is coordinating with a number of environmental groups and industry associations across the country right now to build up pressure from the business community for the Senate to extend key clean energy tax incentives. As one prong of that strategy they are developing stakeholder letters in key states -- letters designed to show the broad level of support these tax credits enjoy.
Vote Solar is working to get every solar company, big box retailer, utility, on down to local mom and pop's coffee shops onto these letters, which they will deliver to the Senate next week.
If you own a business or run an organization, please consider adding your company/org's name onto the letter. You can do so here:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1179/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=971
Are you a Bonafide Expert on Global Warming?
If you are a Ph.D. or Doctoral candidate professional with expertise on global warming, please consider signing onto the U.S. Scientists and Economists' Call for Swift and Deep Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
The Hotline, the Sierra Club's global warming e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on the fight to stop global warming. Every two weeks, you will receive an email with the information and tools to put real global warming solutions to work. |