Bruce Nilles wrote a diary a few days ago explaining the good and bad news about coal, particularly the situation unfolding in Kansas. I'm from Kansas's 1st congressional district - the most conservative in the state - where the proposed coal plant(s) will be built. Mr. Nilles has it absolutely right that the power plants will be extraordinarily bad for the environment and extraordinarily bad for the state's leadership on green energy; but the more important thing to look at is the fact that the majority of Kansans are not standing up against it, contrary to what was written in his post. We are desperately losing the battle of public opinion in Kansas, and if we don't shape up, the coal industry - at the expense of the environment - will reap many rewards in the years to come.
Let me give you some background. In 2007 State Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bemby rejected plans to build two coal-fired plants in Western Kansas, which immediately sparked four subsequent bills passed by the legislature which were all vetoed by Governor Sebelius, the most recent of which occurring on April 13, 2009. But on May 8, mere days since Sebelius was confirmed, the Kansas legislature passed a bill (that was designed by the new governor Mark Parkinson and Sunflower Electric) allowing one 795 Megawatt plant to be built. Like Mr. Nilles said, this plant would contribute significantly to global warming, and is a pure sell-out to the coal industry. The environmental implications of doing this are immense; why would a democratic governor, Sebelius's right-hand man, ever do this?
Public opinion in Kansas has changed rapidly regarding the coal issue. In January of 2008, a poll conducted by Cooper & Secrest Associates found that Kansans overwhelmingly disapproved the building of the two power plants. But, in March 2009, a new poll found that 51% approve of building, 26% disapprove, and 23% are undecided. This is a very significant shift. In a state that is ruled by republicans, Governor Parkinson would have had a tough time winning reelection had he not done what he did, especially when considering the robust media coverage coal proponents get.
Nearly every day my local newspaper's front page has some type of article relating to Sunflower Electric's coal plants. Most of the time it is extremely pro-coal industry, and the only time dissenting opinions are given are when Sebelius would threaten a veto or when my local democratic state representative, Josh Svaty, would voice his objection. In the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capitol-Journal there are a number of voices objecting to the plants; but as any Kansan will tell you, the media coverage is adamantly pro-coal, or as they like to call it, "pro-business". Flip through the letters to the editor and 333 columns and what you'll find is letter after letter and comment after comment in favor of the coal plants. Activists in Kansas need to step up there effort in writing more letters to the editor, leading more protests, persuading more people to change their mind.
State-wide and national progressive organizations must step up their media buys regarding coal and green energy. In Kansas it seems that every other commercial - on EVERY channel - is sponsored by the dirty fuels industry. It is amazing how much money they can spend. . .it appears like an endless amount! This puts the Sunflower Electric debacle in a much better light, and has obviously worked out over the past year in promoting its plan. Originally despised by Kansans, the company has successfully changed public opinion regarding both the salience of the issue and level of support it receives. When Governor Parkinson sees that he is approved by 9% of Kansans, disapproved by 10%, and 81% have no opinion, he knows that making his first act in office a significantly popular one will obviously make his approval ratings soar, and increase his chances at reelection substantially. (Note: He has stated publicly that he has decided against running for reelection, although it wouldn't be the first Kansas politician to change his mind about running for reelection).
Hopefully we will do all we can to stop this plan from moving forward. It will be an extremely difficult thing to accomplish, but if we can just alter public opinion a bit, or at least get its mind off of coal, we'll be able to stop it. Otherwise, we might as well look at the bright side: Governor Parkinson is setting himself up to win reelection, and that means another democratic governor will serve at least one more term in a solidly red state. Most democrats are better than most republicans, right?
Maybe. But the world as we know it is in serious danger from global warming, and a new coal plant puts us that much farther in the wrong direction. I wish there was an easier way to stop environmentally unfriendly things from occurring, but there's not much you can do outside of politics, and subsequently, public opinion.
And that's what makes it so hard.