Coal plants face legal hurdles, too

coalplantAs expected, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed another bill Thursday to allow construction of two new coal-fired power plants near Holcomb. The Kansas House has yet to get enough votes to override her veto. But even if it succeeds, don’t expect a groundbreaking anytime soon. The project will face further legal hurdles and lawsuits.
A coalition of environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and the Environmental Defense Fund, is waging a well-funded nationwide legal battle against new coal plants as a key strategy to fight climate change, a Los Angeles Times article pointed out.
The coalition’s effort claims success in blocking 65 projects in the past three years. The group has 50 coal-plant proposals in its sights — and Holcomb almost certainly would be near the top of the hit list if lawmakers revive it.

13 Comments

  1. JWink
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 6:36 am | Permalink

    It’s time for our Kansas legislators to come together and kill this air polluting, water gulping monstrosity that threatens the future viability of Kansas citizens.

  2. BlueJay
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 7:30 am | Permalink

    When are the dinosaur fuel people gonna get it?

    Kansas does not want or need these plants.

  3. george
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 7:59 am | Permalink

    In my opinion the Sierra Club and it’s like, has cost this country billions of dollars. Do I have any proof no. So jump all over me libs and envros, I don’t care.

  4. outlander
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 8:29 am | Permalink

    http://www.kansas.com/news/story/376798.html

    WASHINGTON - Middle Eastern oil-producing nations are behind today’s record high oil prices, but not for the reason you might think. Taken together, oil-rich nations represent a bloc of fast-growing economies that are now sucking up new energy supplies almost as fast as they’re coming to market.

    —————

    Prediction: Barring the discovery of some near miraculous breakthrough in the energy field, the cost of energy is going to go through the roof. When that happens, efforts such as the justifiable opposition (on water use grounds)to the Holcomb plant won’t happen. If we are serious about the environment, we have got to get new nuclear plants started ASAP. They represent the only viable alternative to coal energy that we have.

  5. BlueJay
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 8:35 am | Permalink

    “Taken together, oil-rich nations represent a bloc of fast-growing economies that are now sucking up new energy supplies almost as fast as they’re coming to market.”

    Said more concisely?

    The rest of the world wants to catch up to the 20th century.

    But it is the 21st century now.

    America has an unprecedented opportunity to be the world leader in the production and market of new and Earth friendly technology.

  6. beber
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 8:39 am | Permalink

    If Bush hadn’t ruined the dollar by cutting taxes and overspending militarily, gas would be a lot cheaper.

  7. gster
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 9:06 am | Permalink

    Oil was $20/barrel before the Iraq fiasco began , and now it is nearing more than $100/barrel over that price.

    Wonder just what was discussed at Cheney’s ( the Prince of Darkness) energy policy meeting held early after the first term began?

  8. lindainks55
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 9:12 am | Permalink

    “…Middle Eastern oil-producing nations are behind today’s record high oil prices…”
    ————

    Today the average American G.I. in Iraq uses about 20.5 gallons of fuel every day, more than double the daily volume consumed by U.S. soldiers in Iraq in 2004. Thus, in order to secure the third-richest country on the planet, the U.S. military is burning enormous quantities of petroleum. And nearly every drop of that fuel is imported into Iraq. These massive fuel requirements—just over 3 million gallons per day for Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the Pentagon’s Defense Energy Support Center—are a key reason for the soaring cost of the war effort.
    http://www.amconmag.com/2008/2008_03_10/print/coverprint.html

  9. BlueJay
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 9:26 am | Permalink

    “don’t expect a groundbreaking anytime soon. The project will face further legal hurdles and lawsuits.”

    That aint the half of it.

    Attitudes are changing.

    Imagine my surprise! Just yesterday I caught a new ad on TV. I don’t have time to get a link. If no one else does, I’ll get it later.

    The ad features Nancy Pelosi…

    ….and Newt Gingrich!

    The call is to address climate change proactively and with all haste.

    J R sings…

    CH ch changes!

  10. Regular
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 10:51 am | Permalink

    #
    BlueJay
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 7:30 am | Permalink

    When are the dinosaur fuel people gonna get it?

    Kansas does not want or need these plants.
    ——————-
    I’m fairly confident that coal was not made from dinosaurs. :D

  11. Phantom
    Posted April 18, 2008 at 11:10 am | Permalink

    If the mideast has such an energy thirst, and doesn’t have the refining capacity, maybe they need Nuclear Power Plants!

  12. American_Way
    Posted April 19, 2008 at 12:18 am | Permalink

    Wow! No disrespect intended, but apparently most posters don’t give a rats ass about this issue.

  13. kreiz
    Posted April 19, 2008 at 10:03 am | Permalink

    Seems as though we want it both ways- we make ever-increasing consumption demands and then want to stifle energy supply sources. No energy supply is risk-free. But it’s naive to think that our energy needs can be magically meant without increases in supply. It’s time we take off our childish glasses and act like adults. We must be proactive in building new coal-fired plants, just as we need to create more efficient utilization of existing energy (such as higher mileage standards in cars). And for good measure- let’s toss in nuclear production as well.