Renewable energy is important for Kansas in several ways. New jobs will be created, less coal will be burned, the climate will benefit. The petition below will be presented to the Kansas legislature. Join the more than 2000 Kansans who have signed it. Read it and then click on the website: http://www.gpace.org/ It takes about 2 minutes of your time.
The League of Women Voters of the United States has called for a 10 year moratorium on the construction of coal fired plants.
The following email is from Scott Allegrucci, Director of GPACE (Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy) (http://www.gpace.org/). Go to the web site (right side below cartoon) to sign their online petition to send a message to the KS legislature encouraging them to work for renewable energy.
From: allegrooch@gmail.comTo: Sent: 2/7/2009 10:00:23 P.M. Central Standard TimeSubj: petition
Colleagues:
The petition text below is posted at http://www.gpace.org/. Please check our website this weekend, sign the petition on our website, and send the link to as many contacts as you can. We are attempting to get thousands of signatures within the next week and will forward the signed petition to all Kansas legislators.
Many thanks.
To the members of the Kansas Legislature:
The Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy and its members statewide would like you to know we're ready to rise to the challenges facing us. We're ready to become a leader in the new energy economy. We're ready to usher in a new era of economic growth, energy security, and environmental responsibility.
As we all face economic peril and a global energy crisis, we embrace the opportunity to move forward and find solutions using our state's own resources and the ethic that has defined generations before us.
As Kansans, we welcome the benefits a renewable energy economy can provide: prosperity for our rural communities; jobs and industry for our cities and towns; and clean energy for a new generation of Kansas homes and businesses.
Whereas Kansas has the third greatest wind resource in the nation;
Whereas 75% of the electricity we use in Kansas is generated from coal, all of which is imported from other states;
Whereas Kansas currently has enough electricity production to meet our needs until at least 2023;
Whereas Kansas has abundant natural resources to become energy independent AND provide clean, renewable energy to help the nation become energy independent;
Whereas the cost of fossil fuels like coal will dramatically increase as carbon emissions are regulated;
We, the undersigned Kansas citizens, demand that you, as our elected representatives,
· Create energy efficiency standards to make the energy we do have go further;
· Prioritize our state's own energy resources, like wind, solar, and natural gas;
· Invest in electricity production that does not produce harmful pollutants that cause health problems;
· Invest in electricity production that will help stimulate the state's economy and create long term jobs, investment, and revenue for all of Kansas;
· Keep intact the rule of law that allows state experts to protect ALL Kansans, and vote against any bill that would sacrifice the health and environment of our children to benefit other states or a single company; and
· Use no more of our time or tax dollars debating power plants that use Wyoming coal to make electricity for Colorado and Texas residents.
We cannot afford another year of legislative squabbling and political gamesmanship. The stakes are too high, and our opportunities too great.
While you consider changing the laws of our state to benefit citizens and utility providers from other states, we fall farther behind our neighbors who have worked to develop their own energy resources and industry driven by renewable energy.
We in Kansas have all we need to re-power our state right here at home. What's lacking is your leadership.
In signing this petition, we call upon you to do what's best for Kansas and to join us in taking meaningful steps towards renewing the Kansas economy.
Thank you.
-- Scott Allegrucci
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
New year, New blog, New legislative session
It's a new year and there is a new spirit of participation in government among people of all ages. Young voters, as well as those who always vote, turned out in record numbers to to make their wishes known. According to David Goldstein of the Kansas City Star, these under thirties, or "millennials" who are the sons and daughters of boomers, are ready to move beyond politics defined by grudges and partisanship. How do you fit into this picture? How will you be involved?
This blog is for busy, involved people like you. You want to know what is happening in the United States Congress, the Kansas legislature or the Manhattan city council that affects the schools your children attend, job opportunities, the air you breathe, the water you drink, your right to vote, social services.
We will search out information for you. We will give you links to other sources on the web. We plan to introduce you to people who are making the decisions that affect you. Your voice needs to be heard. We will help you get started.
Excerpts from: Budget Battles, as reported by Paul Johnson January 19, 2009
Kansas law mandates that the Kansas budget cannot end in the red at the end of the fiscal year(June 30). By the end of November there was a deficit of $142 million. Senate leadership is promoting across the boardbudget cuts to fix the 2009 and 2010 budget. The problem is that only 4 months is left on the 2009 budget, so a 4% cut would mean a real cut of 10-12%.
How will this affect Kansans?
For SRS, this could mean dropping childcare for 1,000 children
It could mean eliminating home services for 1,500 physically disabled clients.
Medical policy may be systematic reduction in medical services. (See Kansas Health Institute website: http://www.khi.org/ )
Energy legislation:
In her State of the State message, the Governor listed her energy proposals:
This blog is for busy, involved people like you. You want to know what is happening in the United States Congress, the Kansas legislature or the Manhattan city council that affects the schools your children attend, job opportunities, the air you breathe, the water you drink, your right to vote, social services.
We will search out information for you. We will give you links to other sources on the web. We plan to introduce you to people who are making the decisions that affect you. Your voice needs to be heard. We will help you get started.
Excerpts from: Budget Battles, as reported by Paul Johnson January 19, 2009
Kansas law mandates that the Kansas budget cannot end in the red at the end of the fiscal year(June 30). By the end of November there was a deficit of $142 million. Senate leadership is promoting across the boardbudget cuts to fix the 2009 and 2010 budget. The problem is that only 4 months is left on the 2009 budget, so a 4% cut would mean a real cut of 10-12%.
How will this affect Kansans?
For SRS, this could mean dropping childcare for 1,000 children
It could mean eliminating home services for 1,500 physically disabled clients.
Medical policy may be systematic reduction in medical services. (See Kansas Health Institute website: http://www.khi.org/ )
Energy legislation:
In her State of the State message, the Governor listed her energy proposals:
- Increase percent of power produced by renewable energy to 29%
- Establish energy efficiency standards for governmental buildings
- Develop electrical power lines to carry wind power from Western Kansas
- Increase programs for energy efficiency
- Oppose new coal plants at Holcomb
Present political strategy is to pass legislation on renewable energy and energy efficiency from the Kansas Energy and Utilitities Committee to the floor of the Kansas House. At that time this legislation will probably be put in a mega-bill that includes approval of the Holcomb coal plants.
The League of Women Voters supports a moratorium on the construction of coal fired power plants for 10 years or until there is a proven means of sequestering carbon dioxide that would be produced by a coal fired power plant. We will be following this issue carefully. It involves Kansas air and water quality. It will contribute to climate change.
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