For the second time in as many years, hundreds of Kansans rallied in front of the Capitol in Topeka yesterday to deal another public blow to the coal-fired power plants that just won't die. This time, though, instead of sheer frustration aimed at conservative Republicans who see dollar signs billowing from smokestacks, the demonstrators came with the political wind at their back.
Knowing that they have enough support in the House to hold the line against the coal plants, they came to thank like-minded lawmakers -- predominantly from the eastern side of the state -- for their progressive stance. But they had an strong message, even for those who stand with them: Stop wasting time and get started on a real energy policy that creates jobs and confronts global warming.
Debbie Wallin (right) said stopping the coal-fired power plants has been the main issue for the 600-member, Johnson County-based True Blue Women since this battle started in 2007. "It doesn't have anything to do with people, it doesn't have anything to do with the energy and helping us," Wallin said of the plants. "It's all about the dollar." Sharon Cohen, another True Blue woman, came to chat with her representative Pat Colloton, who opposed the plants last year but supported the development this session. "I'd like her to rethink it," Cohen said. " In dollars and cents, it doesn't make sense. And I have figures to show her."
The Manda family drove up from Wichita because, they said, it's time for Kansas to move into the 21st Century and take advantage of wind and solar options -- even if it means dragging out this political debate until investors shudder at the very notion of backing a coal-fired power plant.
Kelly Magerkur said she had three reasons to oppose the coal plants: her kids. "We drive out to Colorado and we see the wind farms, so they understand that," she said. "Whereas yesterday we went out to Jeffrey Energy Center coal plant and talked about that. So they're getting it." Ethan, 6, and Perry, 4, knew enough to stick pinwheels on their homemade signs.
Wearing their UAW Local 31 jackets, fellow autoworkers looked on as Jeff Manning told the crowd that General Motors' Fairfax plant has embraced a green ethic, reducing the amount of waste per vehicle from 80 pounds to less than 18 pounds. "Clean energy is the best opportunity to rebuild Main Street America and lead the next generation of manufacturing and technological advances and keep jobs in Kansas," he told the crowd.
Richard Mabion, one of Wyandotte County's most dogged activists, told the audience that he represented two Kansas demographics that haven't typically been affiliated with the green movement -- until now. "One, I'm a city boy and, two, I'm a person of color. My generation fought to racially integrate this poisonous, pollution-based economy and the best way to honor and continue my generation's effort is to make sure this new, clean, green economy has a place for everyone right from the start. While many speak about the aspects of coal-fired plants, I'm a city boy in a county that has three -- I repeat, three -- coal-fired plants located within the people of color community. We never know how many of our children are breathing pollutants everyday."
But the most fiery sermon of the morning came from Scott Allegrucci, director of the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy, who told the growing gathering that it's time to get past the dirty debate about coal. "Two legislative sessions have been spent on the coal argument and the result for Kansas has been absolutely nothing," he said. "A real comprehensive energy policy has been held hostage for two years, just so out-of-state political interests could advance a political argument. ... But 54 legislators have done their part. They have withstood hundreds of thousands of dollars in ongoing phone banks and direct mail based on missing or misinformation and more than two dozen special interest lobbyists and those legislators said, 'Not good enough,' to three bogus energy bills last year and another this year."
Fired up, the group crossed the street to crowd the claustrophobic halls of the Docking State Office Building to thank -- or challenge -- their representatives. A bit conspicuously, the overwhelming majority of legislators were out of the office.
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