Kansas utilities are sticking to their irresponsible but all-too-familiar claim that they can’t act quickly to meet federal rules aimed at reducing harmful emissions from coal-fired power plants.
How disappointing. And how predictable.
The utilities have known for years the day was coming when they would be required to make upgrades needed to help make the air cleaner. Indeed, many utilities in other states already have complied.
Yet Kansas City Power & Light, the Kansas City, Kan., Board of Public Utilities, Westar and Sunflower Electric Power Corp. are in court trying to fend off meeting the regulations. They complain that acting now could lead to higher costs and even gasp rolling blackouts for customers.
The Environmental Protection Agency has exposed the emptiness of these rash contentions. Regional Administrator Karl Brooks points out that “in EPA’s 40-year history, there have been no instances in which the Clean Air Act has contributed to electric grid reliability problems....”
It’s especially irritating that the utilities are peddling the same song-and-dance stories that often arise when companies are told to stop polluting so much. We don’t have enough time. Customers’ bills will soar. Jobs will be lost.
As the EPA and environmental groups point out, costs to customers won’t be nearly as high as predicted.
Plus, the regulations will help create jobs for workers to make and install the pollution-control equipment.
The rules also will lead to fewer emissions that cause costly health problems for many people, especially children and the elderly. That means big savings on medical bills.
Finally, the claim that controlling pollution costs jobs is the same nonsense that U.S. auto companies used for decades to try to get out of building more fuel-efficient vehicles.
By trying to slow progress on clean air, the Kansas utilities are not acting in the best interests of their customers. They instead should march forward to quickly reduce pollution from their dirty power plants.
