MIDWEST UTILITY CHIEF IN ENERGY STRAIGHT TALK

So valuable to hear from the heartland. The perspective is less progressive, less hopeful but nevertheless straight shooting from a guy who has to keep the lights turned on and the house heated.

KCP&L Chief Sees Coal Still In Mix; Climate Fears Discussed
John Hanna, October 11, 2007 (AP via Yahoo Finance)

WHO
Bill Downey, president/ceo, Kansas City Power & Light Co.(KCP&L)

Coal is cheap and readily available almost everywhere. People who have to keep the power flowing need motivation to move away from it. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
At a university sponsored conference, with scientists talking about the dangers of climate change resulting from emissions, Downey shared his perspectives and his utility’s plans for future energy supply. KCP&L will be using new coal plants and developing conservation programs.

WHEN
KCP&L is presently building a coal-fired plant in Missouri. One of Kansas’ biggest utilities is seeking permits for 2 new coal-fired power plants. They promised local environmentalists in March 2007 they would seek sources of wind energy and develop conservation programs.

WHERE
- The gathering was at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
- The scientists predicted hotter summers and shorter growing seasons in Kansas, reductions in overall rainfall and possibly more intense rainstorms.

WHY
- Three-fourths of Kansas electricity and 85% of Missouri electricity comes from coal-fired power plants.
- The scientists talked about the growth in energy demand spurred by developing nations like China and India and agreed much of the supply would come from coal, aggravating climate change.
- Environmentalists urged Downey to consider renewable sources like wind energy. Downey said renewables would be inadequate and talked instead about KCP&L’s intention to develop efficiency and conservation measures. He also spoke hopefully about carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).

2005 (EIA): Coal provided just under half of US electricity, down from just over half the year before. With wind installations rising, the trend could continue if the US remains efficient and the public demands renewables. But left to their own devices, utilities are likely to resort to the sure thing. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Downey: "Coal, oil and natural gas will remain indispensable…It's a hard truth that a rapidly growing world economy will require large increases in energy supplies over the next quarter-century."
- Dan Nagengast, executive director, Kansas Rural Center: "It adds up to doom…I don't know where this goes, but it doesn't look good…[But] assuming that the whole world is going to be sort of as gluttonous as we are and ever-increasingly so, probably underestimates just how people perceive the world…”
- Downey: "The reality is we need everything that we have…What I get concerned about is when people say, 'Well, we'll do it all with one thing or another'…We can't be placing one bet in this future."