Lawmakers fail to override coal plant veto in Kansas

[proud2BlibKansan]

Lawmakers fail to override coal plant veto
By DAVID KLEPPER
The Star’s Topeka correspondent

House roll call on attempted veto override
TOPEKA | Opponents of two power plants proposed for western Kansas won a stunning victory Thursday that they hope signals the end of a six-month war over coal.

The Kansas House failed Thursday night to muster the 84 votes needed to defy Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and approve the plants over her veto. The vote was 80-45.

But plant supporters said they would keep trying until the legislative session ends.

“We’ll do something. We’re not through,” said House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, a major backer of Sunflower Electric Power Corp.’s project. Asked if Thursday’s vote was the last on the issue, the Ingalls Republican said, “Not hardly.”

Plant opponents called the vote historic, saying it may go down as a turning point in which Kansas becomes a leader in the movement away from old energy sources toward sustainable, environmentally friendly technologies and energy efficiency. They hoped Thursday’s vote was decisive.


more . . .http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/601775.html

[wtmusic]

1. "Sunflower Electric Power Corp." Heh.

I'll bet the name "Airborne Contaminant Power Corp" didn't even make it to the final round.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Well, Kansas is the Sunflower State

Not the Airborne Contaminant state. LOL

[AZCat]

2. I was home in Kansas last week and read about the big guns getting involved.

There was an article in the local paper talking about how the big coal power industry organizations were starting to lobby in the state legislature on this issue. I don't think they're going to let this rest - they have too much riding on these power plants because they see the denial as a possible trend-setter among state governments.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. They supposedly have another bill in the works

but this session is almost over. And the governor will veto any bills letting them build this plant. The people in Kansas are opposed to it, it will only create 100 jobs, many of them temporary, and 85% of the power is going to Colorado. (Colorado has stricter environmental laws, so the plant can't be built there.)