Earlier this week I wrote about a controversial pro-coal ad that ran in a number of Kansas newspapers. It was placed by a group called Kansas For Affordable Energy, which is financially backed by 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.

The story just won't die.

On Friday, Dot Earth ran an update on the story that included a link to an ad spoof produced by the opinion editors and writers of The Wichita Eagle. In addition to the Web video piece, there were a couple of editorials on the issue, one titled  Evil madmen plotting out energy future, the other is a blog post titled Blowing smoke on carbon-neutral coal plants (be sure to browse the comments).

From the other side of the aisle is this Op-ed piece jointly written by Republicans Stephen Morris, president of the Kansas Senate and Melvin Neufeld speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives. Here's their point of view (again, be sure to browse the comments):

Any attempt to mandate carbon reductions below natural market levels will increase energy costs for Kansas consumers and businesses. We have already heard from a number of concerned business interests; companies considering locating or expanding in Kansas may reconsider if a reliable source of reasonably priced energy is not available.

At least they didn't trot out the boogeymen.

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