Kansas Governor Takes On Coal

Dear Friends,

Pressure continues to build on Governor Culver.  Across the state, but especially in Marshall and Black Hawk counties, people want him to speak out against the proposed coal-fired plants in Marshalltown and Waterloo. 

Last fall, the Governor’s staff told me that he wouldn’t voice an opinion about the proposed coal plants because the issue is still before the Iowa Utilities Board.  That board is quasi-judicial in nature, and the governor doesn’t get involved with matters that are under legal review, I was told.

Well, that didn’t sit well with me.  I argued that the Governor was using a double standard.  Had he not just spoken out against a ruling on same-sex marriage immediately after that issue was referred back to the courts?  It seemed to me then – and it seems to me now – that he was trying to have it both ways.  The truth is that it’s politically popular to be against same-sex marriage, but it might offend powerful special interests (and campaign contributors) to speak out against coal.

Today, I learned of new hope for encouraging the Governor to get on the right side of this issue.  As posted at www.grist.org on March 21, it appears we have an ally to the south in the battle against coal.  Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius vetoed a bill that would have allowed a new coal plant to be built. The proposed legislation would have overturned an October decision by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to deny a permit for the new power plant on the basis of greenhouse-gas emissions.

On grist’s website, Sebelius is quoted as saying, "Instead of building two new coal plants, which would produce 11 million new tons of carbon dioxide each year, I support pursuing other, more promising energy and economic development alternatives.  Building additional coal plants now is likely to create a significant economic liability for Kansas in the future."

It remains to be seen whether pro-coal forces in the Kansas Legislature can muster the votes needed to override the Governor’s veto.

With Governor Sebelius’ recent action in Kansas, now is a good time to encourage Governor Culver to take a stand.  Let’s contact him, ask him to stand up to the big utility companies, and put to rest once and for all the idea that more coal-fired power plants are part of Iowa’s energy future.

Thanks,

Ed Fallon