Quote for the Day 2/14/08

During typing class break time, while Tim was working his way through a list of read-aloud jokes--

Emily: Let's all laugh at the same time so if someone doesn't get it no one will know.

(I thought this was the funniest thing I heard during the break.)


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I should probably label this "Rant for the Day."

Kansas State Senator Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinell: We have to export to survive as a state. I see no difference with energy. (after comparing the Kansas generation of electricity for surrounding states to exporting cattle and crops.)

I nearly choked on this one. Each of the proposed coal-fired power plants will emit 11 million tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the air every year. This is a power plant product that cannot be exported, and it cannot be utilized effectively by recycling--unlike the waste products of cattle and crop production. Along with other emissions like poisonous heavy metals and carcinogens, the waste products will all stay in Kansas to pollute our air, water, and soil. The coal used as fuel for the power plants has to be imported. Importing coal to export electricity, keeping all the pollutants and 15% of the electricity the imported coal generates does not look like a balanced equation to me. Ostmeyer's comparison lacks rationality.

Kansas needs only a small amount of additional energy-producing capability for our own use. I can't believe that anyone is saying it makes sense to foul our environment in this way for a product we do not need. All this in a state with one of the best wind energy (largely undeveloped) profiles in the country.

Unsurprisingly, Texas and Colorado, which will own 85% of the power generated in Kansas, think building these plants in Kansas is a great idea. The legislature is swallowing the rhetoric, hook, line, and sinker. Yesterday's paper informed us that legislation is now on a fast track to overturn Ron Bremby's (Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment) denial of building permits for the power plants--this, after all conciliatory provisions in past versions of the bill have been stripped out. Basically, the proposal lets the power plants be constructed with no accompanying efforts to address environmental concerns. Governor Sebelius will certainly veto the bill if it reaches her desk. But, in what has often been an issue polarized along political party lines, it's possible that the legislature may overturn the veto.

Although it crowds the outer limits of my generosity to excuse the behavior of our legislators, I have even more difficulty excusing the behavior of Christians who seem to have completely lost sight of the principle of stewardship where it applies to the environment. Take from it whatever you please however you wish, leave it unfit to support human health, and leave the mess for future residents to deal with is not my idea of rational thinking about stewardship of the earth. Neither does it demonstrate humility and gratefulness before the Creator Who has "given us richly all things to enjoy." I, for one, wish to treasure these gifts and use them wisely.

I think I will also contact SenatorTerry Bruce, bruce@senate.state.ks.us and Representative Mark Treaster, marktreaster@southwind.net to share part of this blog post with them.