Setting the stage for a Clean Energy Future
by Melissa Blakley
At a time of rapidly changing energy policy, United States power companies are rushing to build up to 120 coal-fired power plants, partly because they want to get the permitting process started before planned and potential regulations kick in for mercury and greenhouse gases. These facilities, if built, will lock their regions into dirty energy for the lifetime of a coal plant or 30–50 years. Once built, they will effectively shut out the development of cheaper and cleaner renewable energy alternatives. And, since there is currently no way to retrofit coal-burning power plants to capture carbon dioxide (CO2), each plant will add more global warming gasses to our atmosphere.
Here in Missouri, four coal-burning power plants are being planned, with two of those well along in their permitting process—City Utilities in Springfield and Kansas City Power & Light in Kansas City. The Missouri Sierra Club is actively opposing the Springfield and Kansas City power plants because we believe there are cheaper and safer solutions for meeting the future energy demands of these regions. Sierra Club is also engaged in the campaign to stop Peabody from building a huge coal facility in Illinois just outside of St. Louis. And we are monitoring the plans of several other energy companies operating in Missouri.
Missouri Sierra Club’s Clean Air & Energy Campaign is engaged in energy issues throughout the state to influence and change energy policy in order to achieve wide-ranging, long-term results. What we accomplish here could impact permit requirements, public policy, and overall public expectations for future energy projects in Missouri and the entire Midwest.
Missouri’s Ozark Chapter Clean Air & Energy Campaign
- Promote clean energy options in Missouri—primarily efficiency and wind—as a cleaner, cheaper and safer solution to each region’s long-term energy needs.
- Prevent the construction of any new coal-burning power plant in Missouri.
- Reduce emissions from existing coal-burning power plants.
- Promote a balanced energy portfolio for all utilities in Missouri.
The coal industry is planning for the past
Until now, the coal and oil industries have successfully discouraged investments in innovation and new energy sources. But Americans know we won’t build a 21st century energy system on 19th century fuel sources. The plans of City Utilities in Springfield and Kansas City Power & Light in Kansas City will lock these regions and ratepayers into 30–50 year investments with obsolete technology.
The price of burning coal is increasing
Beyond the enormous external health and environmental costs attributed to mining, transporting and burning coal, future cost increases are expected that will be passed directly on to ratepayers. Spot prices for Wyoming Powder River Basin coal have tripled from $7 to $22 per ton over the last year and are expected to continue to rise with higher demand and strains on the transportation system. And the future cost of regulating global warming gasses and mercury emissions will be passed on to rate-payers.
A Better Energy Solution for Missouri
Hundreds of communities around the U.S. are decreasing their over-dependence on coal and building a clean energy future through increased efficiency, new technology, and clean energy sources. Missouri can do the same with honest, balanced energy plans that don’t build expensive excess capacity—we can all benefit from plans that provide for clean, safe and reliable energy solutions.
Support Missouri Sierra Club’s Clean Air & Energy Campaign—Help Stop the Coal Rush in Missouri and do something about Global Warming!