1/4/2008

By DUANE SCHRAG

Salina Journal

Kansans are conflicted about global warming, but they, nevertheless, strongly support the state's decision to deny permits to build two new coal-fired power plants in Holcomb, according to a statewide poll commissioned by The Land Institute.

The telephone survey of registered voters, which was conducted Nov. 19, 20, 25 and 26, found that 62 percent agree with the decision last October of Rod Bremby, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, to deny permits for two 700-megawatt coal-fired power plants because they would emit 1 million tons of carbon dioxide every month.

The poll's statewide margin of error was 3.1 percent.

Only 31 percent opposed the decision, the poll found.

Even in the 1st Congressional District, which includes Salina and blankets western Kansas, a majority supported the state's decision: 51 percent in favor, 40 percent opposed, and 9 percent undecided.

In Kansas' largest county, Johnson, support hit 70 percent.

It also showed strong statewide agreement -- 75 percent -- that the state should aggressively pursue wind energy development.

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, said Thursday the findings are completely at odds with the information he's received. He said he has heard from only two constituents who support the governor -- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has said the decision was entirely Bremby's to make but that she personally opposed the plants -- and neither of the governor's supporters agree with the administration on the permit decision.

"It's overwhelming," he said. "I have never seen an issue so one-sided as this one. This is bigger than property taxes."

Sen. Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, declined to comment on the results, saying he had not seen the study. Sen. Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Faith in the poll

But Nancy Jackson, executive director of the Land Institute's Climate and Energy Project, expressed complete faith in the validity of the poll, done by Cooper and Secrest Associates of Alexandria, Va. Partner Alan Secrest said in a conference call Thursday that the question on the permit was carefully worded to note the reason Bremby gave for his decision, as well as the concerns of those who disagree.

"We went some distance out of our way to articulate both sides," he said.

Rep. Josh Svaty, D-Ellsworth, said he suspects Kansans do support the state's decision to deny permits.

"I think that's an accurate reflection of people's opinions," he said.

The results were based on responses from 1,007 registered voters who are likely to vote in a statewide election, of which 400 were in the 1st Congressional District. Secrest said that to get those responses, the firm tried to contact somewhere between 25,000 and 40,000 voters.

He declined to provide demographic information about the respondents, but said they "very much reflected the nature of the electorate."

Jackson said the poll was commissioned for internal use only, but some of the findings were so at odds with conventional wisdom that the decision was made to release some of the information.

Questioning the motives

But Sunflower Electric, the Hays cooperative that was to be one of the partners in the coal plant, issued a statement questioning the motives of the poll.

"It is not surprising that The Land Institute, a well-known critic of the Holcomb Station expansion and opponent of a sound energy policy that provides Kansans reliable and affordable electric rates, would commission a poll for publicity purposes," spokesman Steve Miller said in an e-mail response. "This attempt to influence legislators will not dissuade us and our many supporters throughout the state from pursuing policies that allow the Holcomb Station expansion to occur while providing regulatory certainty so that Kansas remains competitive with our neighboring states."

Miller noted that many public agencies -- including the cities of Ashland, Garden City, Hoisington, Holcomb, Lakin, Lincoln, Mankato, Pratt, WaKeeney and Washington -- have adopted resolutions supporting the proposed coal plants.

And although he declined to comment directly on the validity of the poll, he wondered why the entire poll isn't being made public. The Climate and Energy Project declined Thursday to disclose all the questions people were asked. It released the language used in five questions, but it's not known how many were asked.

Jackson defended the project's decision to release only some of the results, saying that the nonprofit organization does not lobby and intended to use the poll for its own purposes.

Climate change questions

She said respondents displayed considerable interest in environmental issues but had mixed views on the issue of climate change.

"It looks to us like a majority of Kansans aren't yet sure what to think on climate change," she said.

Among the findings the project released was the fact that nearly half of the respondents -- 48 percent -- think that energy is not just an economic issue but a moral one, as well.

n Reporter Duane Schrag can be reached at 822-1422 or by e-mail at dschrag@salina.com.

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