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Concerned Citizens of Platte County, Inc. (CCPC)

February, 2007 Newsletter

Contents



We have a new website! www.ccpcmo.org


Events



Local Control Rally. March 5 ? 1:30pm ? State Capitol ?? Meet at the front steps(more below).

Clean Energy Show. March 31, 2007. 10-4pm - 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.

Earth Fair ?Apr 7- Shawnee Mission East High School? 10am-3pm

National Day of Climate Action - Apr 14 ? www.stepitup07.org

Kansas City EarthFest - Apr 21 ? Shawnee Mission Park?10am-2pm ? www.bridgingthegap.org

Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)





CAFOs are large corporate livestock farms that are very damaging to the rural economy, environment and human health. They are different from independent family farms that are farmer owned, care for the land, do not pollute, and support the local rural economy. The only way for rural citizens to protect themselves from these operations is to pass local county health ordinances. The Missouri Legislature and the corporately controlled Farm Bureau have threatened this local control for many years. The bill this year is SB 364. You can view it at http://www.senate.mo.gov/07info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=7389.

CCPC is a member of a coalition of groups called Missourians for Local Control. This organization is sponsoring a rally at the Missouri Capitol on Mar. 5, 1:30pm to show support for local control. We need as many people to come as possible ? we?ll teach you how to lobby and it will be a great time to meet your own representatives. Also please sign the on-line petition at www.morural.org. Let me know if you want to come with one of us ? s.brown@netzero.net.

Kansas Coal Plants ? Still under consideration



Kansas regulators are still considering permitting the huge Holcomb, KS complex of 3 ? 700 MW power plants. The legislature could not muster the votes to get a coal plant moratorium out of committee in January and Gov. Sebelius still talks tough about Climate Change, but refuses to step in.



We have a new website! www.ccpcmo.org



KCPL buying Aquila ? Raising rates again ? Advocating Conservation



KCPL is purchasing the Missouri operations of rival power company Aquila for $1.7 billion. In a separate action, KCPL asked the Public Service Commission for another rate hike of 8% - they just received 10% back in December. KCPL and 56 other utilities from across the country met to discuss ways to control energy use. Seems it is getting too expensive to just keep building more power plants and that pesky Climate Change is causing concern about carbon limits.

It?s official ? Global Warming is happening



An esteemed group of scientists and governments, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has confirmed with almost 90% certainty what we already knew ? Climate Change is happening, man is making it worse, and it is happening fast.

Businesses join with environmental groups to fight global warming



A group of leading environmental organizations and U.S.-based businesses, including Alcoa Inc., General Electric Co. and Duke Energy, have stepped up to put pressure on the White House and Congress to move quickly on global warming.

RenewMO.org



RenewMO is a coalition of citizens and organizations supporting sound renewable energy policy in Missouri. They have put forth two suggestions ? The Renewable Electricity Standard Act (Sen. Graham?s SB 154) and the Easy Connection Act (to be sponsored by Rep. Holsman shortly). Check it out and join at www.renewmo.org.

Missouri Legislature



We are watching two bills relating to a Renewable Portfolio Standard. This would require utilities to obtain a certain percentage of power from renewable sources like wind. SB 54 ? sponsored by Sen. Koster ? would make this a goal, while SB 154 ? by Sen. Graham ? would make this a requirement. SB 154 deserves support since it provides the certainty that the financial markets require when making investments. The legislature has shown that it is willing to require renewable power with the passage of the ethanol mandate last year.

Sen. Koster has also sponsored SB 364 which would take away the rights of counties to enact local health ordinances to protect their citizens from the negative impacts of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Visit the legislative section of our website for other bills.

Please call you senators or representatives and express your opinions. I have been told by many of our representatives that if they receive as little as 5 phone calls on a subject, they think it must be a big deal. You can make a difference. To find your senator or representative go to http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx.

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.

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

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