This agreement was officially announced today, with stories planted as
below. There will also be a press conference later today in Kansas City.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/19/AR2007031901606.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/business/20energy.html?_r=1&ref=environment&oref=slogin
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/16936964.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh Dorner, Sierra Club, (202) 675-2384
Susan Brown, CCPC, (816) 450-8948
Mike Deggendorf, KCP&L, (media), (816) 556-2104
Todd Kobayashi, KCP&L, (investor), (816) 556-2904
Environmental, Community Groups Announce
Important Energy Agreement with Major Utility
Sierra Club, Kansas City Power & Light and Concerned Citizens of Platte
County
Put Forward Agreement to Reduce Emissions, Spur Clean Energy Development
(Kansas City, Mo.)--In a groundbreaking agreement that can serve as a model
for environmental groups and utilities working together, the Sierra Club,
Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), and the Concerned Citizens of Platte
County (CCPC) have agreed on a set of initiatives to offset carbon dioxide
(CO2) and reduce other emissions for the Kansas City-based utility. Under
the agreement announced today, KCP&L agrees to pursue offsets for all of
the global warming emissions associated with its new plant through
significant investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and cut
pollution from its existing plants in order to improve air quality in the
Greater Kansas City metro area. The agreement proposes other investments
in clean energy, significant decreases in emissions and resolves four
appeals pending between the Sierra Club, CCPC, and KCP&L. Full
implementation of the terms of the agreement will necessitate approval from
the appropriate authorities, as some of the initiatives in this agreement
require either enabling legislative policy or regulatory approval.
"This agreement is a win for our climate, for the environment, and for the
residents of the Kansas City area," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive
Director. "It is the latest sign that smart energy solutions like wind
power and energy efficiency are gathering steam. We look forward to
working with KCP&L to help the Midwest realize its full potential as a
leader in the clean energy technologies that will fuel the economy of
tomorrow."
"We believe there is significant potential through new energy technology
and innovative approaches to improve the environment and offer additional
value to our customers across the Kansas City region. This is especially
true with energy efficiency and wind generation, which we have been
implementing already through our Comprehensive Energy Plan developed in
2005" said Mike Chesser, Chairman and CEO of Great Plains Energy. "We look
forward to collaborating with the Sierra Club and other stakeholders as we
pursue these exciting new opportunities."
The most significant element of the agreement is the unprecedented
commitment by KCP&L to pursue the offset of carbon emissions from its
proposed Iatan 2 generating station, located near Weston, Missouri. The
estimated 6,000,000 tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions are targeted to
be offset by adding 400 megawatts (MW) of wind power; 300 MW of energy
efficiency; and a yet to be determined combination of wind, efficiency, or
the closing, altering, re-powering or efficiency improvements at any of its
generating units. These proposed offsets will be partially implemented by
2010 and fully implemented by 2012. The parties are also agreeing to work
together on a series of regulatory and legislative initiatives to achieve
an overall reduction in KCP&L's carbon dioxide emissions of 20 percent by
2020.
"This agreement shows that we can work together to curb air pollution,
combat global warming, and protect our local communities," said Susan
Brown, chairperson for Concerned Citizens of Platte County. "The renewable
energy investments in this agreement can revitalize the region's
manufacturing economy and offer rural landowners a new source of steady
income from wind turbines located on their property. The large investment
in energy efficiency will also help everyone use less energy--reducing
emissions and saving consumers and businesses money each month."
In addition to offsetting its global warming emissions, residents of the
Kansas City area will benefit from reduced emissions of criteria pollutants
at KCP&L's existing Iatan 1 and La Cygne plants. The agreement calls for
annual reductions in nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter
estimated to total some 9,100 tons. Within the next year, KCP&L will also
work with the Sierra Club to study options, including retiring, re-powering
or upgrading its Montrose power plant. Finally, KCP&L will fund several
community projects including: recommendations of the Kansas City Climate
Protection Committee targeting global warming reduction measures;
additional monitoring of soot and smog pollution in the metro area; and an
upgrade to the drinking water infrastructure in Weston, a community near
the Iatan station.
In another important step for clean energy, KCP&L will also file for
approval of a net metering program within six months. Net metering allows
a utility's customers to generate small amounts of renewable energy
on-site, such as from rooftop solar panels or a small wind turbine, and
sell any excess energy back to the utility.
KCP&L's Comprehensive Energy Plan was collaboratively constructed with a
broad group of stakeholders and includes investments in new generation
(including renewable wind energy); innovative efficiency, affordability and
demand response programs; infrastructure improvements; and proactive
environmental investments. This balanced approach will enable KCP&L to
satisfy growing energy demands across the region for years to come while
improving environmental stewardship.
"KCP&L's current Comprehensive Energy Plan addresses the energy needs and
emissions reductions for the Kansas City region with actions into the year
2010. This Agreement is the start of the next set of discussions with
stakeholders as we develop our plans for the 2010-2015 timeframe," said
Bill Downey, President and CEO of KCP&L. "It reflects the ongoing
atmosphere of collaboration we established in developing the CEP, and
proactively resolves differences. We look forward to working with all
stakeholders to secure a long-term energy supply for Kansas City while
improving air quality."
This agreement builds on the success of a 2006 agreement that Sierra Club
brokered with City Water Light and Power of Springfield, IL. That agreement
stipulated that the municipal utility retire one of the dirtiest coal
plants in the nation, purchase 120 MW of wind, invest four million dollars
in energy efficiency, and significantly decrease emissions of soot, smog
and mercury pollution. In addition, all of the government buildings owned
by the state of Illinois are to be powered with green electricity. Last
week, CWLP announced that it stands to at least break even and may reap
significant profits from its purchase and resale the wind power investments
required in their agreement.
"We were and continue to be very pleased with the agreement we reached in
Springfield," commented Pope. "Our exciting new agreement with KCP&L raises
the bar even further and demonstrates just how much we can achieve when
utilities and groups like the Sierra Club work together."
###
About the Sierra Club
Sierra Club, founded in 1892, is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots
environmental organization with over 1.3 million members and supporters.
For the past two years the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center has
represented Sierra Club and CCPC in their appeal of the Missouri PSC
approval of the Iatan 2 power plant. For the past year Washington
University Interdisciplinary Law Clinic has represented Sierra Club in its
appeal of the air permit Missouri DNR issued for Iatan 2.
About the Concerned Citizens of Platte County
Concerned Citizens of Platte County, Inc. (CCPC) is a group concerned about
quality of life, children's health and property values in Platte County,
Missouri and the surrounding region. The organization was incorporated in
the early 1990's.
About Kansas City Power & Light
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., KCP&L (www.kcpl.com) is a leading
regulated provider of electricity in the Midwest. KCP&L is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP), the holding
company for KCP&L and Strategic Energy L.L.C., a competitive electricity
supplier.
Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this release that are not based on historical facts are
forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and are intended to
be as of the date when made. Forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, statements regarding projected delivered volumes and
margins, the outcome of regulatory proceedings, cost estimates of the
comprehensive energy plan and other matters affecting future operations.
In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Great Plains Energy is providing a number of
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
the provided forward-looking information. These important factors include:
future economic conditions in the regional, national and international
markets, including but not limited to regional and national wholesale
electricity markets; market perception of the energy industry and Great
Plains Energy; changes in business strategy, operations or development
plans; effects of current or proposed state and federal legislative and
regulatory actions or developments, including, but not limited to,
deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of the electric utility
industry; decisions of regulators regarding rates its subsidiaries can
charge for electricity; adverse changes in applicable laws, regulations,
rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental
matters including, but not limited to, air and water quality; financial
market conditions and performance including, but not limited to, changes in
interest rates and in availability and cost of capital and the effects on
pension plan assets and costs; credit ratings; inflation rates;
effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the ability of
counterparties to satisfy their contractual commitments; impact of
terrorist acts; increased competition including, but not limited to, retail
choice in the electric utility industry and the entry of new competitors;
ability to carry out marketing and sales plans; weather conditions
including weather-related damage; cost, availability, quality and
deliverability of fuel; ability to achieve generation planning goals and
the occurrence and duration of unplanned generation outages; delays in the
anticipated in-service dates and cost increases of additional generating
capacity; nuclear operations; ability to enter new markets successfully and
capitalize on growth opportunities in non-regulated businesses and the
effects of competition; application of critical accounting policies,
including, but not limited to, those related to derivatives and pension
liabilities; workforce risks including compensation and benefits costs;
performance of projects undertaken by non-regulated businesses and the
success of efforts to invest in and develop new opportunities; the ability
to successfully complete merger, acquisitions or divestiture plans
(including the acquisition of Aquila, Inc., and the sale of assets to Black
Hills Corporation); and other risks and uncertainties. Other risk factors
are detailed from time to time in Great Plains Energy's most recent
quarterly report on Form 10-Q or annual report on Form 10-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. This list of factors is not
all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all factors.
-----------------
Josh Dorner
Associate Press Secretary
Sierra Club
408 C Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
tel 202.675.2384
cel 202.679.7570
fax 202.547.6009
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]
Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp
To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp