Renewable things are happening in the heartland. Ohio passed a renewable portfolio standard in the spring, and Michigan did the same a few weeks ago. Renewable activists in Missouri recently qualified a renewable energy standard -- Proposition C -- for the ballot, and this week the Kansas City Star endorsed the effort.
The measure calls for a relatively modest 15 percent renewable standard by 2021, but the lessons from Colorado's Amendment 37 are worth keeping in mind. In 2004, after three or four failures in the legislature, Colorado held the country's first statewide referendum on renewable energy. Despite unanimous utility opposition and a well-funded "no" campaign, the measure prevailed. Since then, the state legislature has doubled the requirement, and some of the measure's strongest utility opponents have pulled a 360 and have become relatively aggressive in their approach toward renewables.
To its credit, Kansas City Power and Light, one of the state's largest utilities, supports Prop. C.
Why buying cheap energy certificates worsens climate change
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MClemens Posted 7:47 am
01 Oct 2008
Climate Change is receiving increased attention in Washington, D.C. and in a number of states as environmental organizations push for restrictions on greenhouse gasses (GHG) like carbon dioxide. GHG's are perceived as contributing to rising global temberatures even though scientists have not reached a consensus on man's impact on the global climate.
It goes on to say that 5 states have imposed mandatory caps on GHG emissions and 19 have set non-binding targets for reducing emissions. Then follows with:
Proponents argue state action will prompt the federal government and possibly other countries to adopt climate change policies. Opponents cite the lack of conclusive data and the increased costs of fuel and utility bills that will result from GHG restrictions as reasons to oppose such measures.
The Yes/No questions that followed were:
Do you support a mandatory cap on GHG emissions in Missouri?
Do you support a voluntary target fro reducing GHG emissions in Missouri?
Do you believe a comprehensive study of a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and it's (sic) economic impacts on agriculture and other sectors should be conducted before any action is taken?
Am I the only one that senses a bit of a slant to the wording of this? Am I wrong for supposing that the aforementioned ballot measure might meet stiff resistance from the ag community?
MClemens
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mreinbold Posted 1:02 pm
01 Oct 2008
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