Statewide Organizations Advocate Environmentally-sound, Pro-growth Energy Policy in Kansas

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/statewide-organizations-advocate-environmentally-sound-pro-growth-energy-policy-in-kansas,254574.shtml

HAYS, Kan., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Kansas' largest agriculture, business, industry, and labor organizations have come together under the Alliance for Sound Energy Policy (ASEP), a statewide nonpartisan organization, to promote environmentally-sound, pro-growth energy policies in Kansas.

Following 29 years of public service, Brian J. Moline will serve as chairman of the newly formed coalition. Moline was twice appointed to the Kansas Corporation Commission by Gov. Bill Graves. In 2003, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius designated him chair of the three-member Commission. Moline was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) in January 2005.

"Our state's economy depends on a reliable regulatory framework and a sensible energy policy on which businesses, industries, and consumers can rely," said Moline. "These factors are essential to ensuring that Kansas remains a competitive place to work and to do business."

"Access to affordable, reliable electricity ensures prosperity for our state and all Kansans," said Steve Baccus, president of the Kansas Farm Bureau. "The diversity of our coalition makes the Alliance for Sound Energy Policy a credible voice in the debate over balancing our growing electricity demand with our need to protect the environment."

The Alliance will encourage responsible energy policies that safeguard public health, protect the environment, provide affordable electricity, and integrate renewable energy solutions. Through the efforts of the Alliance, the state will reinforce its image as a leader in environmental stewardship and a premier location in which to do business.

"The state's decision to reject the proposed expansion of the Holcomb Station power plant is cause for concern," said Kansas AFL-CIO president Mark Love. "If the regulatory environment looks to be unpredictable to employers, Kansas could lose out on good jobs."

"The strength of the Kansas economy depends on the fair and uniform application of state statutes, rules, and regulations," said Amy J. Blankenbiller, Kansas Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. "A stable regulatory environment is vitally important for investment, economic development, and job creation throughout the state."

Members of the growing coalition include the Central & Western Kansas Building & Construction Trades Council, Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO, Midwest Energy Inc., Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, and other concerned citizens.

Alliance for Sound Energy Policy Membership List Central & Western Kansas Building & Construction Trades Council Finney County Board of Commissioners Kansas AFL-CIO Kansas Chamber of Commerce Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Kansas Farm Bureau Kansas IBEW Local 304 Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Inc. Midwest Energy Inc. Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc. Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Inc. Sunflower Electric Power Corporation Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. Western Cooperative Electric Association, Inc. Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc.

The Alliance for Sound Energy Policy is a statewide, nonpartisan organization committed to balancing our growing energy needs with environmental stewardship while encouraging the development of a comprehensive energy strategy that provides an affordable, reliable, and diverse energy portfolio for Kansas' future.

We can be found online at: http://www.soundenergypolicy.net/.

The Alliance for Sound Energy Policy

The phrases "Environmentally-sound" and "Pro-growth" have no business appearing in the same sentence.

Whenever they do I am assured that the agenda is that of business, and the important one of the two is "pro-growth".

The logic of the cancer cell.

Growth is what got us here. If we keep growing, we're going to find ourselves in the same situation, but the consequences will be more difficult to push off into the future.

However, what needs to be kept in mind is that the "largest agriculture, business, industry, and labor organizations" all require growth. They wouldn't exist without growth. So it isn't surprising that the "largest agriculture, business, industry, and labor organizations" would "encourage responsible energy policies that safeguard public health, protect the environment, provide affordable electricity, and integrate renewable energy solutions", and actually think it might work(or maybe they know it won't work). You're not going to get the best of everything, without paying for it. The price is our increasing impact on the planet. We live in physical reality. Anything we do creates an impact. The more stuff we do, on a ever larger scale, will do what? It will create...a...larger impact. 2+2=4. The problem is that we've been able to convince ourselves that 2+2=5. If we can just use "renewables", we'll be able to glide effortlessly through thin air, and our shit won't stink.

Great reply. I agree with you.