Mongo power lines for Kansas?

Under a proposed compromise to bring both more wind power and more coal plants to Kansas, a giant power line could be constructed.

The set of three power lines have to be big enough to send massive amounts of electricity to power-hungry folks back East. Each cable would measure 30 inches in diameter. All three cables would carry 765 kilovolts in total, or more than double the 345 kilovolts of the largest existing power line in Kansas.

I would not want to live near that power line. I've stood under much smaller power lines and felt the buzz and had my skin crawl.

Still, the prospect for making Kansas a real power in the wind energy world is tempting. It would bring lots of jobs and hopefully less expensive energy for residents of the state.

On the other hand, the notion of sending electricity many, many states away is not at all in line with the think-local ethos that America needs to adopt regarding its consumption patterns.

Plus, we don't really need more coal plants in this state. Former Governor Kathleen Sebelius spent parts of two terms fighting this, and now that she's gone Sunflower Electric is finding a sneaky - and smart - way to get this done. Yet, the compromise would require state utilities to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewables by 2020.

Much to think about.

Kansas has great potential to export wind energy

Kansas has the potential to produce 19 gigawatts of wind-generated electricity, according to a recent Forbes article.

The problem is what to do with all the electricity?

To export it to states to the East would require massive investment in grid and delivery infrastructure.

At the current cost of building wind generators, the projects are prohibitive. However, if the cap on carbon emissions goes through, or some other federal assistance comes on line, this could become a reality.

The Forbes article is based on a report from the American Council on Renewable Energy. It says the Kansas economy could reap benefits of $400 million per year by 2018 and $800 million to $900 million annually from 2020 to 2030.

However, the council says that wind energy investments have been slow in coming to Kansas after the state agreed not to build wind towers in the picturesque Flint Hills. The power industry has come away with the impression that Kansas is "anti-wind."

As a stubborn Missourian living in Kansas, I would like to see at least something positive come out of this state, so here's hoping that the Kansas wind generation industry can take off.

Why should I pay extra to recycle when my neighbors just throw everything away?

That used to be my philosophy, and I avoided paying the extra charge for a recycling bin in Overland Park for several years.

This morning, coming back from the gym, I noticed the mounds of trash at my neighbor's street front. It was way more trash than a five-person family needs to generate, and it's a decent amount every week.

"If only they would recycle, half of that stuff wouldn't go to landfills," my wife said.

The problem is in Overland Park, Kan., the city's trash contract makes you pay extra for the privilege of doing the right thing for the community and the planet as a whole. Recycling costs $3 a month, on top of $16 for trash disposal.

As one of the largest cities in the state, and certainly one of the most progressive, it seems recycling should simply be figured into the trash service. About 44% of Overland Park households recycle, according to the Kansas City Star. That figure would surely be much higher if it were not for the surcharge.

Nearby Lenexa has a mandatory recycling fee, and nearly 70% of households participate.

Overland Park's city council approved such a recycling fee in October 2008. Consumer backlash was so severe that the council quickly rescinded the measure by a 9-2 vote. The council may take up the matter again, and if they do, here's one way it could be done: trash pickup fees go up for everyone, and now the fee just so happens to include recycling too. Do that for $17.50 a month and I'm sold.

I'm normally not a fan of backdoor regulations, but it really does irk me that, by recycling, I pay a financial penalty for doing the right thing.