Kansas Energy Council policy recommendations
Topeka — A far-reaching strategy to tackle energy and climate change is now before Kansas citizens.
Kansas Energy Council is seeking public comment on its 15 draft proposals. The council will hold a public meeting today in Wichita and then meet a couple of more times before it presents a final recommendations to state leaders.
"But before the Energy Council approves and delivers this report, we want to get input from Kansans so that the final product reflects a common vision for a comprehensive energy plan," said Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, co-chair of the KEC.
Proposals to reduce the 70 mph speed limit on some Kansas roads to 65 mph and increase speeding fines by 50 percent have gained the most publicity.
But the package of recommendations also touches on the international debate over how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"I hope that Kansans will join us to share their thoughts and concerns as we move together towards a clean energy future," Parkinson said.
Today's meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon at the Marcus Welcome Center on the campus of Wichita State University. The first public hearing on the proposals drew only 10 people earlier this month at Fort Hays State University.
In Kansas, the debate over carbon dioxide emissions and their effect on climate change has fired up passions on both sides.
A proposal to build two 700-megawatt coal-burning power plants in southwestern Kansas was stopped earlier this year by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who cited concerns over CO2 emissions. Seventy-five percent of the state's electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, which emit 35,639 metric tons of CO2 per year, according to the KEC.
The KEC recommendations say any attempt to tax C02 emissions or establish a cap-and-trade system to limit emissions should come from the federal government. But the package provides a number of proposals aimed at reducing carbon dioxide through conservation, efficiency and alternative energy sources.
On the speed limit proposal, the KEC said the reduction would decrease pollution. At speeds over 60 mph, each 5 mph increase also increases greenhouse gas emission from 7 percent to 23 percent, according to the KEC. The slower speed would also improve road safety and reduce accident and fatality rates, it said.
The proposal to increase fines by 50 percent is recommended as a deterrent to speeding. Under the proposal, the current fine for driving 10 mph over the speed limit would increase from $30 to $45.
Comments
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Lynn731 (anonymous) says…
I am totally against messing with the speed limit !! I remember the last time. NO, leave the speed limit alone. Thank you, Lynn
belexus73 (anonymous) says…
The speed limit will not get traction in the state legislature. It is just the most colorful recommendation to come out of a bloated and moribund committee that is too large and laced with business-as-usual bureaucrats who have been assigned by their company to be the representative for the committee. Yawn.
OnlyLawrenceRepublican (anonymous) says…
Ok Belexus73, do you work with the KCC often?
belexus73 (anonymous) says…
OLR, I do follow some dockets very closely and can pick up a phone and chat with some (not a large number) of folks who are involved on one side or the other of matters coming before the KCC. Of course, this article was about the KEC which is not where the decision-making on energy is in this state right now- It is out at the KCC. But you know that already, I am sure.
OnlyLawrenceRepublican (anonymous) says…
I know that, I'm just trying to figure out who you are. We work in the same industry, in the same area of the state, and seem to know a lot of the same people.
a_flock_of_jayhawks (anonymous) says…
belexus73 says..."It is just the most colorful recommendation to come out of a bloated and moribund committee that is too large and laced with business-as-usual bureaucrats"Would you rather leave it to Melvin and Co. at our illustrious legislature?
belexus73 (anonymous) says…
Flock: I am not worried about the legislature on energy issues. The governor will block anything particularly obnoxious and most energy issues are ignored due to ignorance and time compression at the legislature. Carl Holmes one said, "the legislative system is designed to kill bills." Carl is certainly correct on that point. As I have pointed out, the place where energy policy is being decided is the KCC. OLR-we may know each other that is true. I suggest you go up to all the suspects on the list and yell, "Hi Bexlexus73" behind them and see who turns around. Let me cut down the list-it will not be: Melvin Neufeld, Sarah Dean, or Larry Holloway. Cheers.
OnlyLawrenceRepublican (anonymous) says…
Too bad you're not Holloway, that's who I was going to guess.
OnlyLawrenceRepublican (anonymous) says…
Actually, there's no way Holloway eats at Zen Zero. As far as the other two, Sarah Dean is definitely too young to have kids at KU and Melvin Nuefeld wouldn't be caught dead reading the LJWorld.I will keep digging.
belexus73 (anonymous) says…
Oh well, a decent guess (compared to Melvin or Sarah, for sure). I do know Larry and he is a valuable source of arcane KCC technical data. I have my doubts if he haunts the LJW site since he lives in Lyndon and is oriented to Topeka-but I could be mistaken.
OnlyLawrenceRepublican (anonymous) says…
I need a hint.
belexus73 (anonymous) says…
Well, with all due respect I would prefer the anonymous route as do many folks on this site. I appreciate your interest but will have to respectfully decline any pertinent hints.
OnlyLawrenceRepublican (anonymous) says…
Understood. I'd never out anyone, and it may turn out that I don't know you, but I would guess that I do.As for Sarah Dean, I was thinking Hill-Nelson. I'm not sure who Sarah Dean is.