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Posted on Mar. 22, 2007
By Jeanette Browning
The Platte County Citizen
KCP&L FOES SETTLE DIFFERENCES
Though the Iatan II generating station near Weston will be built and put into operation, Susan Brown of Concerned Citizens of Platte County is a happy woman today.
Late Monday, Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L) reached a collaborative agreement with Concerned Citizens and the Sierra Club, creating a partnership to protect the environment and curb future pollution.
Under the agreement, KCP&L agrees to pursue offsets for all of the global warming emissions associated with its new plant through investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and cut pollution from its existing plants in order to improve air quality in the Kansas City metro area. The Sierra Club and Concerned Citizens agreed to stop fighting the construction of Iatan II.
"This agreement shows that we can work together to curb air pollution, combat global warming and protect our local communities," Brown said. "The renewable energy investments in this agreement can revitalize the region's manufacturing economy and offer rural landowners a new source of steady income from wind turbines located on their property. The large investment in energy efficiency will also help everyone use less energy - reducing emissions and saving consumers and businesses money each month."
Brown acknowledges the help of the Sierra Club, and the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center - Sierra Club's attorneys - as well as KCP&L itself for remaining communicative and cooperative during the process.
The agreement proposes investments in clean energy, decreases in emissions and resolves four appeals pending between the three entities. Some of the main points of the agreement include:
- A 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in the Kansas City area by 2020 and a decrease in emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other pollutants at both Iatan stations and the La Cygne, Kan. plant.
- Upgrades to the water system in the Weston area and the construction of a turning lane on Highway 45 at the entrance to Iatan I and II. Additional air quality monitors would also be installed.
- Construction of 400 megawatts of wind energy by 2012. This is in addition to the 100-megawatt wind farm KCP&L recently established near Spearville , Kan. The utility will work with the community to encourage an additional 300 megawatts of energy efficiency in the metro area.
- Work to allow net metering, which allows service area residents to generate electricity themselves through solar or wind generation. Extra energy may be sold back to the utility.
- Work with the Sierra Club to study the pollution controls on KCP&L's Montrose power plant and finance greenhouse gas reduction projects recommended by the Kansas City Climate Protection Committee.
KCP&L will offset the estimated six million tons a year of carbon emissions from Iatan II with wind power, energy efficiency and other measures. The plan will work with KCP&L's existing Comprehensive Energy Plan.
"KCP&L's current Comprehensive Energy Plan addresses the energy needs and emissions reductions for the Kansas City region with actions into the year 2010," said Bill Downey, president and CEO of KCP&L. "This agreement is the start of the next set of discussions with stakeholders as we develop our plans for the 2010-15 timeframe. It reflects the ongoing atmosphere of collaboration we established in developing the CEP, and proactively resolves differences. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to secure a long-term energy supply for Kansas City while improving air quality."
The agreement builds on the success of a 2006 agreement that Sierra Club brokered with City Water Light and Power of Springfield, Ill. That agreement stipulated that the municipal utility retire a plant, purchase wind energy, invest in energy efficiency and decrease emissions of soot, smog and mercury pollution.
"This agreement is a win for our climate, for the environment and for the residents of the Kansas City area," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club executive director. "It is the latest sign that smart energy solutions like wind power and energy efficiency are gathering steam. We look forward to working with KCP&L to help the Midwest realize its full potential as a leader in the clean energy technologies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow."
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