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Posted on Dec 2, 2006
Rally in Topeka
to ask Gov. Sebelius for moratorium on new coal-burning power plants...
http://media.49abcnews.com/video/2006/12/02/protest.mov
http://kansaspublicradio.org/index.php
http://www.ksnt.com/news/local/4811406.html
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/16151140.htm
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/dec/03/energy_forefront/?city_local
http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/4809911.html
Channel 49
Topeka - More than 100 people braved the cold to rally on the steps of the capitol, protesting plans for Kansas to build three new coal plants and asking the governor to increase renewable energy use.
"It's a new day. There's been a paradigm shift. They are not acceptable in Kansas," said activist Bill Griffith of the Sierra Club.
With the possibility of three new coal-fired plants being built near Holcomb, environmentalists like Bill Griffith say the impact on Kansans could be devastating.
"If this plant is built, it will create a 20 percent increase of mercury in Kansas, which is highly toxic, number one. And number two; this would be the largest new source of green house gasses in the United States. That's unacceptable," said Griffith.
"For every ton of coal the power plant burns, it puts four tons of CO-2 into the atmosphere," said KSU Professor Kenneth Barnerd.
Rally goers even crossed state lines to voice their concern.
"I'm concerned about my future. We don't want coal burning plants and we don't want the pollution coming over to Missouri," said Missouri resident Alex Asher.
During the rally, people waived signs encouraging Governor Kathleen Sebelius to push for more alternative energy sources.
And while the Governor didn't attend the rally, her office released a statement saying Governor Sebelius continues to look at all energy options available to Kansas and is working to gather as much information on the options as possible.
Rally goers say they will continue to push for alternative energy and urge the state to look to the answers, they say, are blowing in the wind.
"I think it's going to educate more people. It's go be showing the KDHE and the Governor the extreme concern of a lot of citizens," said Griffith.
The company looking to build the new plants is the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation. It wants to build three 700-megawatt power generators near an already existing 360-megawatt station.
Channel WIBW
Grassroots Groups Rally Against New Kansas Coal Plants
Posted: 2:06 PM Dec 2, 2006
Several grassroots organizations joined together today to protest new coal plants in Kansas. 13's Lindsay Shively spoke with the groups rallying on the steps of the capitol. Coats and mittens in tow, more than 100 people, young and old, rallied to send the governor a message…No more coal. "The earth is in trouble, we've got to do what we can."
They say expanding a plant south of Holcomb, Kansas is a threat to the environment. The plant expansion would make it the largest coal-burning power plant west of the Mississippi. With the cold weather to serve as a reminder of why we need that energy, these people say they need the governor's help to stop new coal plants from coming to Kansas.
"I think if she has designs on going farther in politics, this is a great time to show some leadership for the 21st century." In Kansas City for the day, the governor's office released this statement: "Governor Sebelius is considering all options as we seek to balance energy development and conservation in our state. At this point, we're still gathering information but Governor Sebelius is looking at all possibilities closely."
"We are pro-energy and pro-jobs, we just think there's a better way than the same old dirty coal." And so they rallied, in hopes of the winds of change. To find more information from some of the rallying groups, you can visit the sierra club's website at www.kansas.sierraclub.org
KANU
Two sound bites at:
http://kansaspublicradio.org/index.php
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