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Concerned Citizens of Platte County, Inc. (CCPC)

November 2008 Newsletter

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In this issue



Greetings!


I have been getting a few inquiries about the election and I just wanted to share some thoughts about next Tuesday. CCPC is non-partisan - so we don't take formal positions on candidates. I can share a few things with you, though and let you know my thoughts on some of the Amendments and Initiatives - see below.

Our next CCPC Board meeting will be in Camden Point on Sunday, Nov 9th at 6pm. We'll be having a pre-holiday celebration. Let me know if you would like to attend and I'll send you directions.

Happy voting!

Susan Brown


Election Comments ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Platte County Commissioner First District - I sent out a survey to the Platte County Commission candidates and Kathy Dusenbery was the only candidate to return our survey. She also served as the co-chair of the Mid-America Regional Council's Air Quality Forum. I served on the Forum with her and believe she has a true commitment to the environment.

Bill Quitmeier, also a candidate for First District Commissioner, has had a long standing commitment to the environment. He was a founding member of the Platte County Land Trust and has represented local citizens groups against inappropriate development in the county.

Platte County Commissioner Second District - Jim Plunkett has truly put Platte County on the map when it comes to sustainability. He spearheaded our Green Build program and the adoption of the energy conservation codes. Our long range plan for the county, Platte Profile, is filled with sustainability goals thanks to him.

I don't know much about his opponent, Chuck Rankin. Both Platte County Newspapers, Landmark and Citizen, had some of his comments this week.

Proposition C - Not only will it require utilities to source more of their power from renewables and give homeowners rebates to install solar panels, but it will signal manufacturers that Missouri supports renewable energy. This will make us more competitive when it comes to getting new wind blade and component manufacturers to locate in Missouri. Vote "yes".

Light Rail - This isn't perfect, but it is a start and the people did vote in favor of it once - that needs to be respected. Sierra Club has endorsed it and gives a good reason - it should encourage development within the city and hopefully curb sprawl. Vote "Yes".

Constitutional Amendment #4 - I had no idea what this was so I asked some people I trust and respect at the City and here was their comment...

"Amendment 4 benefits Kansas City by allowing for MDNR(MO Dept. of Nat. Resources) to re-allocate unused stormwater loan funds to cities, like KC, that want the loans. Currently, the language restricts the allocation to a one time allocation on a per capita basis to cities with >25,000 people within first class counties."

You might want to check into it more for yourself, but I'll be voting for this amendment.


Partnering to Power Platte County: Electricity Issues and Options ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join The Platte County Citizens Coalition and CCPC for this event at the Platte County Resource Center, 11724 NW Plaza Circle, #200, KCMO on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7pm.

Susan Brown will speak about the terms of the agreement between KCP&L, CCPC and Sierra Club. Carol Sivils and Lori Shaffer with KCP&L will speak about their energy efficiency programs and payment assistance programs for rate payers. We'll have a discussion period along with literature available.


Missouri Votes Conservation 7th Annual Environmental Summit ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, Dec. 6th 9am-3pm.
Mizzou Campus, Columbia, MO

Come join us to discuss key environmental and conservation issues facing Missouri and its residents. The summit is an opportunity to develop common agendas and set conservation priorities for the coming year, forge alliances among the diverse pro-conservation interests, and network with knowledgeable conservationists from across the state.

http://www.movotesconservation.org/


Energy Tax Credits - Bigger and Better ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the federal financial rescue bill, congress extended, renewed, and increased the renewable energy and energy efficiency tax incentives. Starting in 2009, homeowners can again get tax credits for better insulation, windows, heat pumps and many other measures to help use less energy.

For solar - the extension includes a continuation of the 30% tax credit and accelerated depreciation for the commercial credit and a lifting of the $2,000 cap on the 30% residential credit. For small wind - a first ever tax credit up to $4,000. Click here for more info. These credits make wind and solar more affordable than ever!


Let's build turbines in Missouri and Kansas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everybody is talking about green jobs lately - what does that mean? Partially, it means our closed down factories are converted to wind turbine and solar panel manufacturing plants. There are quite a few efforts just starting to get underway. The KC Area Development Council has a task force looking into how to attract these companies. The Greater KC Chamber has a group looking into how our Community Colleges can support the effort. A group called "The Missouri Partnership" has a $3 million effort underway to market Missouri to renewable energy companies from around the world. Let me know if you hear of others.





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