By Jim Turner, THB Vice-Chair

On February 14 a National Public Radio story said that KCP&L is building 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations, helping to turn the Kansas City area into one of the fastest-growing EV markets in the country.  It looks like new electric car models with improved batteries and extended ranges will be coming out later in 2017.  In the meantime, dealer incentives are providing very good prices on models like Nissan Leafs which work very well for commuting (be sure to confirm that federal tax credit is available on the new model you select).  KCP&L is not yet charging for electricity supplied at the stations, but it’s estimated that starting in mid-summer 2017 the charging cost at the stations will be roughly equivalent to one dollar per gallon of gasoline.  And, many owners will mostly charge their EVs in their own garages. Maintenance costs are lower for EVs because they have fewer moving parts, and they have no tailpipe emissions.

                We remain concerned about smokestack emissions from coal-burning power plants, but that concern will lessen as wind and photovoltaic solar supply more energy to the grid.  On February 12 a group of governors (including Governor Brownback) sent President Trump a letter touting the economic benefits of renewable energy – regrettably, Governor Greitens was not among the signers, and Missouri is badly lagging our neighbors in production of wind and solar energy.  We must keep pressing for better energy policy.