Sure, the Kansas legislature – and the ever-present coal controversy – is on hold until May 29. For the most part, participants in the recent session’s energy debates are temporarily off-screen.
The action continues, though, in other arenas. And in other directions. Tomorrow in Wichita is the first meeting of the Kansas Environmental and Energy Policy (KEEP), the new advisory group advising the Sebelius administration on climate and energy policy (click here for the executive order).
According to the KEEP’s website, the group recognizes the scientific consensus that emissions of greenhouse gases are causing the globe to warm, which in turn contributes to climate change. These changes will impact the economy, the environment, and the overall quality of life on earth.
Thus, KEEP’s purpose is to “respond to the challenge of global climate change, while becoming more energy efficienct and energy independent and spurring economic growth.”
This weekend, Jack Pelton – KEEP chairman and president and chief executive officer of Cessna Aircraft – also had an interesting piece in the Wichita Eagle.
Pelton described KEEP’s purpose as “to find the balance between the needs of businesses and the need to protect the quality of our air,” and their policy goal as developing a plan that meets the energy needs of Kansas, at the same time as identifying “policies and technologies that reduce the state’s carbon footprint.” As he also stated:
I also know the pressure inherent in turning a profit. But neither Cessna nor our parent company, Textron, is prepared to sacrifice the environment for the bottom line. We seek the balance we know exists; and if you ask my counterparts at the other Wichita aerospace companies, they will tell you the same thing.
When the governor asked me to lead this group, she made clear her commitment to the goals I’ve outlined here. Together, our state can ensure power resources are in place for our economic prosperity without dooming future generations of Kansans to the ravages of accelerated climate change.
I am excited to have been asked to help and am very happy to live in a state where the governor is mindful of enhancing the state’s climate for business growth while reducing the state’s negative impact on Earth’s climate.
What exactly will all this specifically MEAN? We’ll find out more tomorrow. In terms of procedure, KEEP is following what is known as a stakeholder process – where an outside facilitator (in this case, the Center for Climate Strategies) helps participants to state their priorities and then weigh them as a group.
Even if you can’t travel to Wichita for KEEP’s kick-off meeting, the process is VERY accessible to the public (YAY). While you might not want to listen for the entire duration – 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – you can call in using the following phone number – 800.704.9804, and conference code 424 541#.
How cool is THAT. Note to those of you not used to conference calls:
(1) they’re easy, don’t be scared, just call in and listen
(2) mute buttons on your phones are helpful, but not always necessary – when a kid or spouse or coworker wanders into the room and asks very loudly where the toilet paper is, it’s nice to have that muted. However, some conference services also automatically have you muted, and you have to press a button and go through a moderator to talk
(3) most conference services track the caller ID information of participants – the name of whatever phone number you are calling from
KEEP is composed of representatives from base of industry, utilities, state and local governments, environmental interest groups, and academia. Appointees include (click here for the additional ex officio appointees):
- Steven Baccus, Kansas Farm Bureau President
- Amy Blankenbiller, Kansas Chamber of Commerce President and CEO
- Jim Boone, NorthStar Comfort Systems Inc. President
- Dr. David Braaten, Kansas University Geography Department Professor
- Casey Cassius, Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell Architects Architect
- Yvonne Cather, Kansas Sierra Club Council Delegate
- Patty Clark, Kansas Leadership Center Director of Operations
- Dr. Johannes Feddema, Kansas University Geography Department Professor
- Ashok Gupta, Natural Resources Defense Council Director of Air and Energy Program
- Colin Hansen, Kansas Municipal Utilities Executive Director
- Nancy Jackson, Land Institute Climate and Energy Project (CEP) Project Director
- Mike Kelley, YRC Worldwide Vice-President
- Mark Knight, Owner of Knight Feedlots, Inc.
- Annie Kuether, State Representative of Kansas
- Stuart Lowry, Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. Executive Vice-President
- William Moore, Westar Energy President and CEO
- Emil Ramirez, United Steel Workers District 11 Assistant Director
- Dr. Charles Rice, Kansas State University Agronomy Department Professor
- Bruce Snead, Kansas State University Engineering Extension Program Specialist
- Dr. John Wong, Wichita State University Urban and Public Affairs Interim Director
— Maril Hazlett, www.climateandenergy.org
