Climate and energy

Hi all. The legislature is on “turn-around” right now, so we are enjoying a bit of a breather. Actually, we’re not – CEP is moving offices, which I would not describe as relaxing. But we are on a slight breather re the live blogging.

So far, the live blogging plan for the week, once the Kansas Legislature is back in session:

Wednesday – House Select Committee on Energy and Environment for the Future (HSCEEF) will “brief” regarding HB 2949, the pro-nuclear and anti-natural gas bill which was introduced thru a blessed committee last week – 784 Docking, at 1:30 p.m.

Thursday - House Energy and Utilities Committee, meeting at 9:15 in 783 Docking, agenda TBA. (EDIT: Meeting canceled.) HSCEEF, second briefing on nuclear power/ HB 2949, and costs of new nuclear power plants – 784 Docking, 1:30 p.m.

Friday – this will depend on what bills are introduced onto the House or Senate floor, which we won’t really know until the week gets underway. And/or it will depend on when the Holcomb/ energy bill makes a comeback into conference committee.

Next week – the schedule is up in the air, except for one sure thing – several organizations from all around KS have decided to get together for a Clean Energy Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 11. CEP has also decided to participate.

On the federal level, there is apparently a possibility of some interesting legislation being introduced from Representative Waxman’s committee (Government Oversight and Reform) next week. Waxman initiated the investigation of the RUS program of the USDA, which is the agency that helps rural electric cooperatives such as Sunflower Electric finance coal-fired power plants.

— Maril Hazlett, www.climateandenergy.org