The Missouri Clean Energy Initiative will require the state's investor-owned utilities to acquire 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021; the current figure is less than 1 percent.
The plan is expected to trim consumers' utility bills and curb the state's overwhelming reliance on coal, which would lead to a reduction in pollution.
Kansas City Power & Light supported the proposition, which was placed on the ballot through an aggressive initiative campaign. The utility should carry through on its commitment to build more wind farms to supply a higher portion of its electricity.
Even with passage of Proposition C, of course, the state will still use coal to create the largest percentage of its electricity. So KCP&L and other utilities must continue their investments in burning coal more cleanly in current and future power plants.
Now that Missouri has led the way, Kansas environmental groups and elected officials should adopt a similar standard that would lead to providing Kansans more electricity with renewable energy.
To see more of The Kansas City Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kansascity.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index