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Concerned Citizens of Platte County, Inc. (CCPC)

December, 2006 Newsletter

Rally for moratorium on new coal plants in Kansas - huge success!
Changes since the election
Cities and States rejecting/regulating coal power
CFL Discounts in KC
Does your group need a speaker?
Events

Rally for Moratorium on New Coal Plants in Kansas - Huge success!

More than 120 people gathered at the Topeka Capitol to ask Gov. Sebelius to place a moratorium on new coal plants in Kansas. The Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment (KDHE) is examining a permit request for the largest new source of global warming gas in the US - the Sunflower Electric plant proposal in Holcomb, KS. It is actually 3 plants for a total of 2100 megawatts of power - most for export to other states. It would use huge amounts of dwindling western Kansas water and emit more brain-damaging mercury, and other pollutants. It would also slow development of the highly anticipated and very delicate Kansas wind industry. The 18 million tons of carbon emitted each year would be just short of the amount all the northeast states have pledged to reduce by 2020! The company is within current law and will eventually get the permits - unless we change the regulations or the governor intervenes.

Momentum against the plant is building:

Hundreds of people spoke out against the plant at a public hearing in Lawrence, KS.
The Lawrence city council passed a resolution against the plant.
Rally's were held in Salina and Topeka.
One of the member electric co-ops in Colorado stated they don't want the power from this plant, saying conservation and renewables would be less expensive.

The KDHE had to extend the comment period to Dec. 15 due to record breaking comments - be sure to e-mail them if haven't already - Attn: Rick Bolfing (info@kdhe.state.ks.us) and the governor at (http://www.governor.ks.gov/comments/comment.htm)

Changes since the election

I have been amazed at the rapid change in attitude toward global warming just in the last month. Below are just some of the exciting articles available at our website -www.tellkcplno.org...

Global Warming a "sleeper issue" in midterm elections - Zogby poll - More than half the voters in last week's midterm election said global warming made a difference in their choice of congressional candidates, according to a Zogby International poll released yesterday. - Greenwire - 11/06

Boxer Pledges shift on global warming policy - Incoming Senate Environment Committee chair says, "Time is running out." - AP - 11/10/06

Energy Firms Come to Terms with Climate Change - While the political debate over global warming continues, top executives at many of the nation's largest energy companies have accepted the scientific consensus about climate change and see federal regulation to cut greenhouse gas emissions as inevitable. - Washington Post - 11/25/06

EPA Scientists File Mass petition for Action on Global Warming - Majority of Entire EPA Workforce Calls for Regulation of Greenhouse Gases. - EPA Press Release - 11/29/06

Supreme Court Takes up Global Warming -Justices tried to estimate the harm of not regulating greenhouse gases from new vehicles. - AP - 11/29/06

White House says, "Even carbon mandates aren't out of the question." White House Opens Up Energy Agenda. Environment Becomes Higher Priority Amid Power Shift On Capitol Hill, Pressure From Abroad. - Dow Jones - 12/4/06

Al Gore on Oprah. Al Gore interviewed on the Oprah show about global warming. 12/5/06

Cities and States rejecting/regulating coal power

Coalition of Texas Mayors advocate against new coal-fired plants. - City of Houston, TX - 8/31/06

Pennsylvania passes plan to regulate mercury. - AP - 11/17/06

More Cities rejecting coal-fired power. - LA Times - 11/22/06

Montrose, CO electric co-op cautioning against power from Holcomb, KS complex - says energy efficiency and renewables would be less expensive. - The Daily Sentinel - 11/27/06

Compact Fluorescent Light bulb Discounts in KC

Be sure to purchase your 60, 75 and 100 watt equivalent CFL bulbs at Hy-Vee and Westlake. These bulbs use a fraction of the energy as regular bulbs and they last much longer. They can be purchased for $1 apiece after the instant rebate. Just fill out the form and the rebate is taken off at the register. The sale runs from Oct 1 - Dec 31. The link below shows participating dealers and locations...http://www.mwalliance.org/program_cal2006.php.

Does your group need a speaker?

Let us know if your group needs a speaker on the issue of coal-burning power plants, global warming, and what can be done. We have a 30 minute power point presentation that hits all the issues - the problems, the alternatives and a plan to make change happen. Contact us at s.brown@netzero.net for a request.

Events

Tour an Energy Efficient Home in Platte County. CCPC Jan. 21 Meeting - 6pm. Contact s.brown@netzero.net for more info.

Clean Energy Fair. March 31, 2007. Zona Rosa Food Court. 8640 N. Dixson Ave., Kansas City, Mo 64153. Have you ever wondered where you can get your own wind turbine? How much you would save with Energy Star appliances? Who can help you make your home more energy efficient? Join us at this one-of-a-kind event in Platte County. Contact me at s.brown@netzero.net for more information on exhibiting your clean energy product or service.

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter - e-mail me if you have comments - s.brown@netzero.net.

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