Lower energy costs, a balanced budget

Lower energy costs, a balanced budget.

That’s the call that is hopefully being sounded through the statehouse this legislative session.

The expansion of the Holcomb power plants was a dominate issue in last years session. As we’ve previously discussed, the failed veto override can be attributed to just one house vote.

Environmentalists and others are already lining up to prevent another attempt to get the plant built. The Wichita Eagle didn’t even wait for the November elections before publishing an anti-power editorial.

Kansans should press their legislative leaders not to refight last session’ s coal wars with Sebelius. Instead, the Legislature should join entities such as the Kansas Energy and Environmental Policy advisory group and Kansas Energy Council in planning how to power Kansas cleanly and comprehensively long term.

The Wichita Eagle Editorial Board, Oct. 28, 2008

Many others have decided that the current budget crisis can be used to try to silence the power plant supporters. Never mind the nearly $5 billion in investment the expansion would bring to a state over $1 billion in the hole.

The fact is state spending and the plants can’t be separated. The budget crisis the state finds itself in only makes the expansion of Holcomb even more important than ever. KRA has posted an online petition to encourage our legislators to look again at the expansion project.

“I encourage you to develop energy policies that are based on proven science to meet our growing need for electricity and allow our economy to grow, while preserving our quality of life in Kansas.”

Follow the link to sign. Signatures collected will be submitted to your state Representative and Senator to let them know you support the nearly $5 billion in economic development the project would bring to the state.

Lower energy costs, a balanced budget. That’s something all Kansans can believe in.