To the editor:

I was pleased to read, in the Feb. 21 edition of the Journal-World, the writer scold the Legislature for promoting bills that would advance the construction of coal-fired generating plants near Holcomb. The bills would invalidate the decision of the secretary of Health and Environment to reject the building of these plants because of the great increase in harmful pollutants that may be emitted from them. I was disturbed by the enthusiasm demonstrated in favor of these plants from many legislators who seem to be placing corporate welfare above that of the citizens they serve.

The champions of the Sunflower plants claim that the new plants will be beneficial to the economy of western Kansas, but one would hope there are other options. Wasn’t there a story in the J-W last fall telling of a bolstered economy in a Missouri community because of the presence of wind generators?

Also, many legislators seem to be under the spell of an archaic Republican premise that neither government nor individuals need interfere with the operations of business and industry. They say they will regulate themselves and we will all march down the road of prosperity under the umbrella of the free market and the Chamber of Commerce. Did anyone ask Preston Tucker about the free market?

The state and the nation as a whole needs to prioritize the formulation of a meaningful energy policy soon and without bickering or using political vendettas.

Jack Ozegovic,

Lawrence