Well, according to the ad that recently ran in the Wichita Eagle and other newspapers throughout Kansas, they're smiling because a recent decision by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebellius to deny air-quality permits for two new 700-megawatt coal-burning plants will mean greater dependence upon natural gas imported from Russia, Venezuela and Iran.

I'd say they're smiling because their friends in the "pro coal" lobby are using good old-fashioned scare tactics to appeal to conservative Kansans' chauvinism. I mean, what is there to like about Putin, Chavez and Ahmadinejad? If they're smiling, it's surely at the expense of others — in this case, coal-fueled power plants in Kansas.

So, who's behind this ad? A group called Kansas For Affordable Energy.

According to the Wichita Eagle:

Money to buy the ads came primarily from Peabody Energy, the world's largest private-sector coal company, and Sunflower Electric Power Corp., a western Kansas utility whose plans for two large coal-fired electric plants were scuttled by state environmental officials.

And, even though the U.S. doesn't currently import any natural gas from Russia, Venezuela or Iran, a Peabody spokesman defended the ad:

Peabody is pleased to support groups like Kansans for Affordable Energy, to attempt to bring sense to the energy debate. Experts agree that any growth in natural gas demand must be met by imports, which can undermine America's goal of energy security.

How about bringing a little more truth to advertising, rather than over-the-top scare tactics to gullible red state Republicans?

Carbon Neutral Journal's rants are brought to you by Vertical Media.

Popularity: 11%