To The Editor,
I am confused! So, in a deal with the GREENIE’S and the FED’S, KCP&L got permission to build the ltan power plant if they demolished the Montrose power plant; AND they had to start utilizing alternative sources of generation (can you say solar and wind). They didn’t remove the transmission lines going to their grid in the city and were probably glad not to have to spend the millions of dollars that would have entailed. So up went ltan, down went Montrose, up went a bunch of wind turbines and then someone remembered the transmission line going to the grid in KC.
Now since we all like our air conditioning, computers, bathroom lights etc, it occurred to someone hey, since we already have a transmission line (millions of dollars we won’t have to spend), let’s· build a new generation source down at Montrose for the afore mentioned air conditioning, computers, bathroom lights etc. Now the deal was for alternative source generation, so that rules out coal, natural gas and nuclear leaving wind and solar as the options that are available. Wind requires a significant amount of construction (it takes a lot of concrete to make those things stand up) and I would bet we aren’t in an area with a steady enough supply of wind to make them cost effective. And the winner is Solar. Straight forward construction, plug and play modular design, transmission lines in place, no emissions, not real pretty to look at and eventually we will need to figure out recycling.
So, here’s where my confusion comes in; if the people that own the ground want to sign a lease with the people that want to construct the project whose business is that anyway. And adding an additional layer of government {zoning) to try to inhibit this line of development seems impotent {Federal vs. Township) as well as expensive (court cost). Since this project has been in discussion for several years, why didn’t those that had a problem with this line of development go to the Government and propose an alternative. For example; have the state pass legislation that required the condemnation and acquisition of the wastelands in the state (coal and lead etc.) for the siting of alternative generation with the over-riding interest being to preserve productive farm ground. That ground to be rehabbed by the developer and once that rehab is completed the ground is deeded over to the developer and added to the tax rolls. I don’t know about you but the pits that dot our county aren’t any prettier than a field of shiny flat plates.
Yes, the romantic ideal of the pastural scene’s of the time before power lines crisscrossed the landscape, still stirs the romantic’s soul. But I am here to tell you that my grandparent’s generation, having lived without the convenience of a light switch, would probably tell you that if it doesn’t put smoke in the air, tons of fly ash to be dealt with and scar the land permanently it probably ain’t that bad a thing. The world is changing and our demands for power (cleanly produced) are growing by leaps and bounds. I would tell you to get used to it, but after all I’m confused!
R.G.Hartner
Clinton, MO
