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Concerned Citizens of Platte County, Inc. (CCPC)

April, 2008 Newsletter

Contents






Events





Earth Fair - Apr. 12 – 10-3pm - Shawnee Mission East High School – Mary Helen Korlebik - mhkor@kc.rr.com

Green Switch Ceremony - April 18 – 9-5pm - Rockport, MO – Main St. – Celebrating first 100% wind powered city in the nation. Linda Kirkland - lmkirkland@live.com

BTG’s Earthwalk/Earthfest - Apr. 19 – Shawnee Mission Park – 9am Earthwalk – 10-2pm Earthfest- http://www.bridgingthegap.org/egap.php?id=183

CCPC Meeting - April 20 – 5pm – Tour a “Green” home in Parkville– We will also have a quick board meeting following the tour – we are looking for some new board members so please join us if you would like to be more involved - sbrown816@gmail.com for directions

Going Green 2008 - April 21 – 11-3pm - Johnson County Community College – Behind Commons – Ben Leary at curiousmonky@yahoo.com

Meet Missouri Votes Conservation - May 1 – 5:30-8:30pm – Party room at Riverbend Condo’s in River Market – 200 Main St., KCMO. Meet representatives of the premier environmental organization in Missouri that tracks and influences what happens in Jeff City. There will be food, drink and lots of fun! Contact Debbie Woehrman at dawoehrman@dstsystems.com.


KC Needs Ethanol Waiver from Governor Blunt



The Missouri Legislature mandated the use of 10% Ethanol in our gasoline last year. KC needs a waiver from this requirement because this will worsen our ozone problem. The Mid America Regional Council’s Air Quality Forum requested a waiver from the Governor’s office two years ago. So far he has refused. Please read the related article at http://www.kansascity.com/344/story/554945.html and contact the governor’s office at (573) 751-3222 or e-mail him at http://www.gov.mo.gov/constituentform.htm.


Holcomb plant and the Kansas Legislature – More Urgent Action needed!



The Kansas Legislature hasn’t been able to override the veto of their first bill allowing the coal plant and has now passed two new bills favorable to the plants. Visit www.gpace.org, www.climateandenergy.org, and www.kansascleanenergy.com for the latest info.


AECI Coal plant near Norborne, MO delayed indefinitely



Despite just receiving their construction permit, AECI can find no one to finance their coal plant and has put their plans on hold. A related article, surprise, surprise…Electric Co-ops debut new energy efficiency programs - http://www.aeci.org/NR20080307.aspx


Missouri Legislation



Legislation to give utilities the same incentive to choose energy efficiency investments as new coal plants has been introduced in the house by the Republican Chair of the Utilities Committee. We strongly support this bill. http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/bills/HB2298.htm

Lots of other good legislation is proposed to protect our property values from Confined Animal Feeding Operations, promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. Check out our website for a list of the bills we are watching… http://www.ccpcmo.org/tell/legislative1.html.


Opposition to Development in Platte County Growing



Opposition to a 680 home subdivision at Hwy 92 and Winan Road called Lake at Tomahawke has stiff opposition from local residents. Their concerns are summarized at www.noto500homes.com. Interestingly, the current landowner is Hal Swaney – the local farmer that spurred formation of CCPC when he proposed a large hog confinement operation near Camden Point in the 1990s. A larger issue for the County Commission is that zoning and our land use plan do not match. This property is zoned Residential Multi Dwelling while the land use plan calls for much less dense development. This will be an interesting question for the upcoming election of County Commissioners.


MO Petition will require utilities use Renewable Energy



An initiative petition has been approved for circulation by the Sec. Of State that will require utilities to gradually source more power from renewables. About 125,000 signatures will be needed by May 4th to get it on the November ballot. Twenty- four states have renewable energy requirements – Missouri passed legislation last year that only recommends it. Visit www.renewmo.org for more info on upcoming signature gathering trainings.


Headlines



Cost of coal power rising. http://www.kansascity.com/344/story/538962.html




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