Climate and energy

Focus on carbon regulation increases Kansans’ awareness of Earth Day. As reported by Sarah Kessinger, when the Supreme Court decided that the EPA could regulate carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act, that pretty much rocked Kansas’s world (Hutchison News).

The decision was in regards to emissions from transportation sources, but it seemed pretty logical that regulation of all CO2 would soon follow (what – the EPA is going to regulate CO2 from the transportation sector but not from electrical generation? That doesn’t seem rational). Quotable from Sarah:

The high court’s majority view of CO2 led state regulator Rod Bremby several months later to nix a permit for Sunflower Electric Power Corp, which sought to build the plants with two other utilities, Colorado-based Tri-State Electric Generation and Transmission Association and Texas-based Golden Spread Electric Cooperative.

As grueling as the ongoing legislative session has been, Stephanie Cole of Sierra Club noted one good effect – the controversy has definitely raised enormous awareness of the issues, offering Kansas environmental groups opportunities to reach new audiences.

“People are researching, asking questions, getting educated,” Cole said. “We’re seeing new faces. It used to be a pretty tight-knit group interested in these things. But not so much any more. The attention this has gotten has people asking, ‘What about climate change and what can we do to respond to it?’ ”

OK, I’ll see your veto override (if it happens) and then raise you something you REALLY won’t like. Speaking at a local Earth Day event -the source did not specify where - Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson had a few major points for legislators who support the two Holcomb bills to be considered for veto override in the legislative wrap-up session next week (49 News).

First – the fight against two proposed coal-fired power plants will continue, even if the legislation achieves an override. Sebelius’s administration will continue to take action against the plants. “Legal action is inevitable.” Oh boy.

Second – the rising costs of plant construction make it likely that the plants won’t be built anyway.

Third – if you are voting for these plants, don’t even TRY to say you are an environmentalist. No way. “You cannot say that you are an environmentalist, that you support the environment, that you are part of the green movement, and vote for coal-fired plants that are not needed for this state.”

Speaking of inevitable litigation… Are you a legal dork? If/ when the Kansas coal drama moves to the courtroom, will you find yourself enraptured with the incredibly fascinating issues wrapped up state carbon regulation?

If so, I suggest you prepare yourself by reading a pretty neato blog, Global Warming Law. I like it.

— Maril Hazlett, www.climateandenergy.org