GUEST COMMENTARY: Kansas residents could face winter power shortages under new "Clean Power Plan"

By Terry Jarrett

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Right now, Kansas gets 63 percent of its electricity from coal-fired power plants.

But what would happen if the state were suddenly forced to seek all of its electricity from other sources?  Could Kansas experience shortages of power during peak use, with the cost of household power jumping significantly?

That’s the baffling scenario looming ahead as President Obama looks to implement strict rules on carbon emissions.  Coal-powered electrical generation is now on the chopping block, thanks to a hastily assembled plan by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to shutter hundreds of domestic, coal-fired power plants.

MOKAN energy/water efficiency contest to kickoff August 9

KANSAS CITY, KAN. --- The MOKAN Take Charge Challenge will engage businesses and organizations from four different Kansas and Missouri cities in an exciting competition designed to impact energy and water efficiency with organizations of all types through education, engagement and results.

A kickoff event will be held on August 9 from 7:30-9 a.m.at the Hollywood Casino, 777 Hollywood Casino Blvd, Kansas City, Kan., 66111.  Breakfast will be provided. 

Unified Government Mayor/CEO Mark Holland; Board of Public Utilities General Manager, Don Gray; Take Charge Challenge Leader, Nathan Meyer of the Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center (MAMTC), and others will be speaking about the social, environmental and financial impacts of energy efficiency.

The competition builds on the success of the Kansas Take Charge Challenge, which was created by the Climate + Energy Project in 2009.