Beyond Coal: Making Progress in Independence
By Winston Apple
In May of 2014 petitions were signed by members and supporters of The Sierra Club in Independence, Missouri in support of renewable energy. Two months later, City Council member Scott Roberson introduced a resolution calling for the closure of one coal-fired power plant (Missouri City) and an end to “the use of coal as a fuel source at the Blue Valley Power Plant.” (Blue Valley will switch to natural gas by January of 2016.)
The resolution also authorized and directed the City Manager to develop and present to the City Council feasibility studies “to determine the practicality and economics of the use of renewable energy options such as solar, wind and geothermal at City-owned facilities.” These preliminary studies were due November 30th of last year.
When the studies were presented, the results exceeded our expectations. Leon Daggett, the director of Independence Power and Light (IPL), recently announced that IPL has received its last shipment of coal and that IPL is on track to be the “greenest utility in the region.” Plans are in the works for a community solar project that would provide 10 megawatts of power.
The activity on the issue of clean, renewable energy in Independence caught the attention of Mayor Matt Mallinson of Sugar Creek. He set up a meeting with John Delurey, community organizer with the Sierra Club (which I was invited to attend). Plans are in the works for a 10- to 17-megawatt solar farm in Sugar Creek on a once-contaminated oil refinery site and John and I have been working with him to help bring those plans to fruition. It is beginning to look like he may not need much help. Some very exciting news regarding clean, renewable energy should be coming from Mayor Mallinson any day now.
Sierra Club Excom member Anne McGregor (along with John and myself) also met recently with a member of Kansas City Mayor James’ staff regarding possibilities for expanded use of solar energy in Kansas City. The meeting went very well and a follow-up meeting has been scheduled.
The times they are a-changin’. The move to clean, renewable energy is picking up steam (pun intended) around the USA and the world. It is important to take time to celebrate victories, particularly those in which we have a hand.
Councilman Roberson and Mayor Mallinson are true believers with regard to the need to move to clean energy and these developments might have taken place even without the involvement of The Sierra Club. It is worth noting, however, that Independence City Manager Robert Heacock made reference (with a smile on his face) to the fact that the people of Independence had made it very clear that they wanted IPL to move to renewable energy. And that, my fellow Sierra Club members, was a nod in our direction.
To get involved in further efforts to lessen our use of coal, contact Gretchen at gretchen.waddellbarwick@sierraclub.org. You can also check our new website for the latest information.