2008 Woodie Awards
SGA senators petition against coal plants
Lisa Norris
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Front Page
The Student Government Association is protesting the construction of coal-fired power plants in western Kansas through a letter to the state Legislature and a petition signed by PSU students.
SGA senators Timi Myers, Carson Felt and Jason Clark discussed the issues surrounding the use of coal energy on April 16 in the Oval.
"Coal-fire power plants are bad for the environment," said Myers. "Coal is an old technology and we should use something new like wind energy or solar power."
Despite these cleaner sources of energy, said Clark, "A lot of legislators and supporters have made the argument that other sources, such as wind and solar power, are not economically feasible at the current time, but when you look at the measures taken to curb CO2 emissions, the projected cost would be significantly higher."
Clark adds that even national banks are taking a stand on the issue.
"Bank of America, JP Morgan and Chase, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup are forcing utility companies to prove they've taken into account the projected cost of these emissions when applying for a loan," Clark said.
Another reason for SGA's opposition to the coal-burning plants is that the majority of the energy created wouldn't benefit Kansans.
"Approximately 85 percent of the energy created by these new plants would go out of state," said Myers.
But some supporters say that Kansas will benefit from these plants because Kansas coal resources will be used. The Web site for the group Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy, gpace.org, suggests that the coal will come from Wyoming and other out-of-state sources.
"The outcome of this decision and the passage of the bill will influence the environment we are going to be living in," Myers said. "PSU students are the future of Kansas and we will have to deal with these environmental issues eventually."
PSU students wishing to voice their opinions on this or other issues may contact their state representatives whose information is available on the state Web site, Kansas.gov.
SGA senators Timi Myers, Carson Felt and Jason Clark discussed the issues surrounding the use of coal energy on April 16 in the Oval.
"Coal-fire power plants are bad for the environment," said Myers. "Coal is an old technology and we should use something new like wind energy or solar power."
Despite these cleaner sources of energy, said Clark, "A lot of legislators and supporters have made the argument that other sources, such as wind and solar power, are not economically feasible at the current time, but when you look at the measures taken to curb CO2 emissions, the projected cost would be significantly higher."
Clark adds that even national banks are taking a stand on the issue.
"Bank of America, JP Morgan and Chase, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup are forcing utility companies to prove they've taken into account the projected cost of these emissions when applying for a loan," Clark said.
Another reason for SGA's opposition to the coal-burning plants is that the majority of the energy created wouldn't benefit Kansans.
"Approximately 85 percent of the energy created by these new plants would go out of state," said Myers.
But some supporters say that Kansas will benefit from these plants because Kansas coal resources will be used. The Web site for the group Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy, gpace.org, suggests that the coal will come from Wyoming and other out-of-state sources.
"The outcome of this decision and the passage of the bill will influence the environment we are going to be living in," Myers said. "PSU students are the future of Kansas and we will have to deal with these environmental issues eventually."
PSU students wishing to voice their opinions on this or other issues may contact their state representatives whose information is available on the state Web site, Kansas.gov.
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