Time and again your author has heard legislators mention a divide of sorts between the populous East, and the Western counties of the state of Kansas. We in the East have our coal-fired power plants now, so we can afford to suggest that Western Kansas not build another.

Now consider another perspective–that the realization is sinking in that global climate disruption is serious business, highly worth a great deal of effort. Where to start? (more…)

Steve Rose, publisher of the Johnson County Sun newspapers group, writes a regular column. The last deals with the coal-fired plant issue, and your author disagrees in some points of language and fact:

Sun Newspapers Memo column: A matter of life and death

Politics can be a powerful force, even when life and death is on the line. (more…)

The Johnson County area Sun newspapers carried this story this week:

Coal-fired Colloton

Legislator may change vote

By: Katrina Segers, staff writer
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Every vote counts.

With the House sitting at an 83-41 vote to approve two coal-fired power plants in western Kansas, a change in only one vote during the wrap-up session that starts April 30 could override the governor’s veto.

State Rep. Pat Colloton, R-Leawood, said although she is still grappling with the issue, she is considering changing her vote against the plants to a vote supporting the plants. (more…)

At least in part.

See his Kansas City Star editorial, Sebelius, coal-fired power plants and environmentalists:

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is absolutely right to oppose building a greatly expanded coal-fired plant. But environmentalists need to back off their no-more-coal-in-Kansas arguments. Sebelius has. (more…)

Someone has to say it.

The governor’s “compromise” was not a good one.

(more…)

The various Sun newspapers of the Johnson County area ran the story Thursday (3rd):

 ‘Some pollution is OK’

We didn’t ask permission to quote the entire article, and will change that if necessary. This article fails to give any “other sides” to the issue except for the state senators’ opinions, and only dissenting opinion on construction of a new coal-fired power plant is from Sen. David Wysong, “My district is concerned about global warming and we listened to them.”

What is very important about this article is that it gives the context from the Kansas legislature point of view. People who disagree (like your web site’s author) need this information:

‘Some pollution is OK’

By: Katrina Segers, staff writer

 

The fate of two $3.6 million coal-fired power plants in western Kansas remains unknown, but most state senators from Johnson County support the plants. (more…)