What's The Matter With Kansas? The Fight Against Big Coal Hits the State Legislature, with National Repercussions.

On October 18, 2007, Kansas made history. Health and Environmental Secretary Roderick Bremby made the landmark decision to deny permits for two new 700 MW coal-fired power plants proposed by Sunflower Electric, on the grounds that carbon emissions from the plants would negatively impact health. "After careful consideration of my responsibility to protect the public health and environment from actual, threatened or potential harm from air pollution, I have decided to deny the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation application for an air quality permit," Bremby said in the official press statement.

Let's be clear, this decision was a game-changer. In his ruling, Bremby stated it would be "irresponsible" to ignore the impacts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases on global warming. It was the first time that climate change was cited in such a context, setting a precedent for other decisions of its kind across the nation. In response, Sunflower proposed three bills to the state legislature in 2008 that would have allowed the plants to be built, but all three were vetoed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius. Now, with the state legislature back in session, Sunflower is continuing their fight to expand the reach of big coal.

If built, the plants in Holcomb, Kansas will belch out about 11 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, to become the largest new source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, equivalent to putting an additional 1.7 million gas-powered cars, light trucks and SUVs on the road. And the expansion could increase the mercury emitted from coal-fired power plants in Kansas by up to 80%. (Mercury's a neurotoxin that can affect the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, up to one in 10 women in the U.S. already have enough mercury in their bloodstreams to harm the nervous system of a developing fetus.)

While the new plants would increase Sunflower's total generating capacity nearly seven-fold, most of the new power would be exported to Colorado. According to the Sierra Club, only 8% of the energy generated by the plants would provide electricity to Kansas, while the state's hearty winds will blow pollutants like mercury and fine-particle emissions from Garden City to Topeka, and everywhere in between. It's no wonder that the majority of Kansans disapprove of coal: 62% of residents oppose new coal plants at this time, and 75% would like to see more investment in wind energy.

Just 5 weeks into the legislative session, Sunflower has already flooded the state Energy and Utilities Committee with over 40 "energy policy" bills. Though discussions of renewable energy have been included, most fail to take advantage of the state's renewable resources (Kansas is ranked 3rd in the US for greatest wind potential), and instead contain measures that would allow for the expansion of coal, including Sunflower's proposed plants in Holcomb. Yes, we understand coal isn't going to disappear and we accept that it is a part of our energy mix, but it has no place in a renewable energy portfolio--especially not in Kansas, where roughly 75% of the state's energy already comes from coal. (We're not too fond of 20% of our energy being generated by nuclear, either.) The only way to achieve 20% renewable energy by 2020 is to reduce the amount of coal in play. Yet Topeka seems hell-bent on big coal.

This week, the Kansas legislature is debating Bill 2182. While the bill makes no mention of Sunflower Electric, carbon emissions, or the Holcomb coal plants, it would effectively strip Health Secretary Rob Bremby and the Department of Health and the Environment of their power to regulate industry based on air quality concerns, and therefore force them to grant the permits to Sunflower.

Because of high disapproval rates around the building of new plants, the predominantly Republican legislature has been wary of casting a strictly pro-coal vote. But according to Scott Allegrucci of the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy (GPACE), Bill 2182 "is cleverly written to allow some legislators who sustained the 2008 vetoes to vote for the coal plants this time, while giving them the ability to tell their constituents that they only voted for 'regulatory certainty,' not coal plants." In Wednesday's discussion of the bill, proponent Amy Blankenbiller of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce stated, "We are not here today to talk about environmental regulation, but to talk about due process, regulatory process."

Call it "due process" if you want, but the truth is that the bill's environmental repercussions are huge. What would it mean for Kansas if the bill is passed? Scott Allegrucci says, "It would certainly force the Holcomb plants to be given air quality permits; it would force KDHE to file action in local courts county-by-county if it wished to enforce federal Clean Air Act findings or rulings; and it would certainly open Kansas to future attempts by ANY polluting industry that wished to secure air quality permits and could afford to buy enough advertising or enough legislative votes to get their way."

And the rest of the nation would lose the first real stand of public heath officials and government against one of the nation's most polluting industries. Whether you live in New York or Nebraska, this ruling will either allow or limit your own state's ability to protect your health. You can follow the legislature's discussion at the Climate and Energy Project's blog, and on Twitter. To support the cause, shoot a friendly email to Lisa Jackson at the EPA, and let her know that Americans across the nation recognize the importance of this case.

Climate change is boundless. Whatever's the matter with Kansas will hit you, too.

UPDATE 2/17: With the outcome of Bill 2182 still undecided, the proponents of Big Coal have introduced Bill 2014 (Bill 265 in the State Senate). Though the bill includes a number of renewable energy provisions, it is not, as claimed, a "comprehensive energy bill." If passed, Bill 2014 would permit the Holcomb plants and prevent Secretary Rod Bremby from ruling on the project's greenhouse gas permits. Legislators plan a vote as early as this Wednesday. If you live in Kansas, please encourage your House and Senate representatives to vote no.

This post was written by Merete Mueller and Simran Sethi, with thanks to The New Number 2 for the image, and to the University of Kansas School of Journalism.

 

 

Comments

[HonorJusticeTruth]

What the author failed to mention is that the reason these plants were going to be built in Kansas to supply almost all of their power to Colorado is that the citizens of Colorado didn't want them built in Colorado. Almost all of Kansas future energy expansion needs can be met by wind power, and the continued expansion of wind farms there says a lot for that industry.

[Simran Sethi - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes, you are right, Colorado has much stronger grassroots organization against coal. That was not the crux of my piece but that information is useful. In regards to wind, it cannot provide baseload power but can absolutely play a significant role in our future energy mix. We are not (yet) leveraging some of our best assets. Wind can be our newest, cleanest cash crop.

[DMEEPhD]

So this is the fault of the citizens of Colorado? No, it's the fault of allowing lobbyists to continually line the pockets of our elected officials, and allowing said lobbyists to carry their snake-oil pitch from one state house to another.

Sunflower Energy..., makes one think about golden yellow, beautiful fields, honey and bumble bees buzzing around. Then one look sup at the darkened skies.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Um, we ARE talking abut the state that teaches "creationism" in schools... right?

[Dystopic]

kansas also produces an inordinate number of serial killers as well.

I lived there (Overland Park, suburb of BBQ Wastland Kansas City), and the people there are not normal. I worked at a software maker and got to listen to a HS sciene teacher tell me that evolution is false because all of the dolphins would have drovned before then developed the ability to close off their blowholes....

I was happy to leave, happy to never return

[HonorJusticeTruth]

And Kansas is blessed by your absence. Your ignorance regarding barbeque, alone, makes you suspect. BTW, if anyone wants to teach creationism as an alternative philosophy, it should be all right, but only if they include Egyptian creationism, Roman creationism, Hindu creationism, and a few we've never heard of, besides the western mythology.

[Simran Sethi - Huffpost Blogger]

That's old news, ConcernedA­boutRFutur­e. The Kansas state board of education deleted language from teaching guidelines that challenged the validity of evolutionary theory, and approved phrasing in line with mainstream science back in Feb 07. That said, of course we always have more opportunities to do better. Kansas is also that state of a landmark ruling against coal plants, a seat of abolitionism, and the birthplace of our new President's mom. I understand your immediate response is one of dismissal, but help me out here because I struggle with this, too. How do we reach folks who don't share our common vision? We need buy-in from EVERYONE and Kansas is poised to play a huge role in our renewable energy future.

[elizaconnors]

In my research, I am looking at the possibility that coops, such as Sunflower, and municipal electric companies pollute more than investor owned companies. My theory is that the accountability to shareholders regarding litigation and public appearance drives pollution reduction in some part. I am not surprised that Sunflower is pushing this so rigorously, there is no downside.

I will let you all know how my research pans out.

[Simran Sethi - Huffpost Blogger]

Please do, Eliza. I'd love to get a better sense of the role of shareholder advocacy in all of this.

[Sarah Smarsh - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for this important post. The current "clean coal" ad campaign gags me.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

I like the REAL "clean coal" ad... there is no such thing.

[DMEEPhD]

Clean coal IS theoretically possible; however, it is further out of reach with our present day technology than a manned mission to Pluto. Germany probably leads the way, but their Kiln Scrubbers (mounted on top of each smokestack) cost way over $12M each, and still do not meet current environmental standards. Hence Sweden, and next Germany, will be rethinking the moratorium on nuclear power.

Clean coal also overlooks one other key element - it's NOT renewable.

[Simran Sethi - Huffpost Blogger]

Sarah, Thank you for reading. Clean coal is the favorite remedy of the pro-coal peeps. I just wish they could show us where and how it's happening. Per my other post, I still think it's an oxymoron.

[Beth Bader]

I've written our state reps and the governor. This issue was the biggest reason I voted AGAINST Vratil, though he still got in. If the voters are against, indeed, why does it keep coming back around and why would our reps still be for it? Hmmm.

Similar to the whole rBGH milk label issue, the public clearly was against it, and there it is again. What is the matter with Kansas? I think if this passes it will be an even bigger embarrassment (and health risk) than our schools not teaching evolution a while back.

Madness. Am off to write Vratil again and our new democratic rep who won over Skubal. Glad our governor has a clue.

[Simran Sethi - Huffpost Blogger]

Beth, I firmly believe what's the matter with Kansas is what's the matter with any place that has a disconnect between its values and actions which is to say everywhere. What do you think is the best way to bridge this gap?

[AustenLC]

There is a strong citizen's movement, especially among young people building around a moratorium on coal. There were some good public actions last October about the time these decisions were being made (http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/10/29/kansas-on-forefront-of-no-coal-movement/) and it's building fast as over 10,000 young people prepare to gather in Washington at the end of the month for Power Shift 2009 to build stronger alliances and press our elected officials to think about our future.

-Austen
http://www.powershift09.org

[Simran Sethi - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for reminding me of that fab resource, Austen.

[readinginthemidwest]

Thanks for this great piece. I had no idea the fight continues in my home state. It's definitely an uphill battle. Just a note: Lisa Jackson's email address doesn't seem to go through.

[Heather Mueller - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks, readingint­hemidwest. Both the link and the email address work for me, but just to be sure, you can also find Lisa Jackson's info here: http://cfpub.epa.gov/locator/in_details.cfm?LAST_NAME=Jackson&FIRST_NAME=Lisa&MAIL_CD=1101A&SITE_CD=HQ&SITE_DESC=HEADQUARTERS&search=1&sort=1&ASSOC_PK=17195&tab=search,

If you're reading from Kansas, you may also want to email your representatives [contact info is here: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-house/searchHouse.do and http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-senate/searchSenate.do ].

[RTIII]

Oddly enough, while the URL does include the first name Lisa and last name Jackson, the actual data that comes up - tried it twice! - is for Jean H. Harding...

As I say, very odd...
.

[AliberalinKS]

Forgot to add, if you would be interested in hearing Scott Allegrucci speaking to the situation, he was on my talk show, Community Bridge, two weeks ago along with James Roberts of GPACE. The show can be downloaded or streamed on our website, http://communitybridge.blogspot.com. It is also available via I-Tunes; search "Christopher Renner" in the I-Tunes search feature. The show aired on 22 January.

[AliberalinKS]

Great post. The problem is educating people out here. Most haven't a clue what their elected representatives do when they are in Topeka and too few elected officials are there to represent the people.

[Dystopic]

if the citizens of Kansas would put effort into somehting other than creationism, maybe the population would be braindead

[lindseywolf]

Great post Simran and Heather! Whether in "Nebraska in New York" this is an important one to follow, and I'm still so grateful that blogs are making this all easier. And thanks for the twitter link as well. And of course, the well-researched post, as always!

[Waylon Lewis - Huffpost Blogger]

annoying...I left a long, thoughtful, brilliant, charming post...and it vanished somehow, somewhere.

So I'll just say: great post, Heather and Simran. I hope Sunflower will make like its moniker and get with the next business wave: solar, other renewable, clean energy sources. And kudos to Sebelius and Bremby for having the guts to stand up for We the People, and our next seven generations. Go Kansas!

[blood1]

As we all know, there is no such thing as CLEAN COAL..and even the "scrubber" technology has inherent problems - with no solution in sight. So far, there has been one test site set up...but no approval as no one knows what will happen to all the collected CO2 and the potential for DEATH if the CO2 leak occurs.

I don't know what percent of the Coal Industries profits are spent on R&D, but I suspect that it is similar to the Oil industry - less than 0.05% (and I am being generous). So until these industries spend as much on R/D as lobbying...then JUST SAY NO!!!

WAY TO GO KANSAS!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!