April 13, 2009
The following is Governor Kathleen Sebelius’ veto statement on HB 2014:
"Last year, I vetoed legislation that forced the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to issue air quality permits for two new coal fired plants which would produce 11 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. These new plants would generate 1400 megawatts of electricity, most of which would be exported to Colorado and Texas. In fact, Kansas would only get 200 megawatts of electricity, while we would get all of the new pollution.
"I vetoed that legislation because while the rest of the country was trying to reduce greenhouse emissions, Kansas would be creating massive new emissions for power we don’t need. Additionally, it appeared that federal legislation that would penalize new carbon dioxide emissions was on the horizon leaving Kansans vulnerable for years to come.
"The bill before me now attempts to take us down that failed path once again. What was a bad idea last year, is an even worse idea today. Now, we know that according to Sunflower Electric’s own reports, their customers will not need additional power until 2018. We also know that President Obama is moving aggressively to regulate new carbon dioxide emissions. These developments reaffirm that now is not the time for new coal plants in Kansas.
"Prior to the start of this legislative session, Lieutenant Governor Parkinson and I worked with utility stakeholders to develop a renewable portfolio standard that would have further developed the natural resource we have in wind energy. Our proposed energy legislation contained real net-metering so that Kansans would be fairly compensated for power they generated; we also included energy efficiency measures to reduce our future energy needs.
"We presented these proposals to the legislature, with the hope that the legislature would move towards a renewable energy economy creating thousands of jobs right here in Kansas. However, the legislature chose instead to sacrifice real comprehensive energy legislation in the pursuit of more coal-fired power plants.
"Despite what supporters of this legislation say, HB 2014 does little to advance clean, renewable energy. In fact, the renewable energy standards established in HB 2014 are less than the voluntary standards we already have today. The net metering provisions in the bill are weaker than any of the 42 states that currently offer net metering to utility consumers.
"Kansas needs legislation that will increase development of our renewable energy resources, increase energy efficiency measures and create good-paying jobs. Once again, as the rest of the country moves toward a renewable energy future, the legislature is intent on darkening Kansas’ energy future with new coal plants that will provide energy we don’t yet need.
"I encourage the legislature to abandon its efforts to saddle Kansas with massive new carbon dioxide emissions, and instead adopt a plan that will take advantage of our enormous wind assets and really look at energy efficiency as a way to stretch our power sources well into the future while creating thousands of sustainable Kansas jobs.
"Pursuant to Article 2, Section 14 of the Constitution of the State of Kansas, I veto House Bill 2014."
# # #