Arkansas Blog: Save our ducks

The Sierra Club pleaded yesterday that environmental regulators not extend the life of the White Bluff coal-fired generating plant because of environmental damage done by such plants to air and water. (Saving ratepayers $1 billion also would be nice.) That sentiment and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee, but not likely move anyone to think more kindly of pending energy legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gases.

But what if somebody told you the pending energy legislation might be critical for preserving the state's fish and wildlife?

THAT might be a successful lobbying angle. They'll be working that angle at a meeting tomorrow in Stuttgart.

NEWS RELEASE

Stuttgart, AR – On Thursday, November 19, sportsmen and women, business owners and natural resource experts will hold a panel discussion on the threat of climate change to Arkansas’ natural resources and outdoor recreation industry. The roundtable will identify solutions at the local, state and federal level to safeguard Arkansas’ wildlife and natural resources from these impacts in order to keep the state’s tourism and outdoor recreation industries thriving.
                WHO:

            Dr. Jim Bednarz is the Director of the Wildlife Ecology and Management Program at Arkansas Stae University and is involved in active research on waterfowl, Northern Bobwhite, woodpeckers, songbirds, and birds of prey. He will give a presentation on climate-change impacts on the distribution of overwintering ducks in the Mississippi Flyway.

            Mr. Mark Sattelberg is the Director of the US Fish and Wildlife
Service office in Conway, Arkansas. The USFWS reports the economic statistics for wildlife and fisheries in the US. Mr. Sattleberg will discuss the economic statistics for Arkansas.

            Mr. Marion McCollum, owner of the famous Mack's Prairie Wings, a sporting goods store in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and a former Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner will discuss the long-term trends of the sporting goods business.

            Mr. Leland Sykes, of Natural Gear, will discuss how climate change can affect the bottom line of his business.

Mr. John Stevens, RNT Duck Calls, will discuss his experiences as a duck hunting guide.
Mr. Luke Naylor is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's waterfowl biologist and will be present to answer questions about waterfowl and habitat in Arkansas.

WHAT: Confronting the climate threat to state’s wildlife and natural resources

WHEN: November 19, 2009 at 5:30 pm – Speakers will be available to meet with press. The program will begin at 6 pm

WHERE: Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, 921 E. 4th Street, Stuttgart, AR
Background: Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to the survival of the natural world and the fish and wildlife Arkansans cherish. The House of Representatives passed its version of climate and clean energy policy last spring and a key Senate committee has just followed suit. Now, a group of Senators is working to deliver bipartisan clean energy and climate solutions. Through comprehensive clean energy and climate policies, we have an historic opportunity to revive our economy, keep Arkansas’ outdoor recreation industry thriving, and create new American jobs while securing clean air and water for future generations.

Gary D Moody
Arkansas Communication Director
Repower America

Comments

C M ded duks.

Posted by: eLwood | November 18, 2009 03:23 PM

I recommend broiling them ducks --- and those pesky bigass woodpeckers --- in an electric oven. We'll have plenty over here in SW Ark, thanks to our swell new plant at McNab.

Posted by: Louie | November 18, 2009 04:01 PM

An extry basting of Mercury on ol Louie's duks. Louie loves him some mercury in ever meal.

Louie loves to see mercury-braindamaged chillin plays all day long, throwing balls real funny and the
such while can't tie them shoes.

Yip M R ded duks.

Posted by: eLwood | November 18, 2009 04:43 PM

I say let us just close anythang down that reeks of pollutin' and when all the good folks that work at them places are out ofa job, let our beloved democrats give em' some money to live on. Aint that what there good fer?

Posted by: CUTURBLAW | November 18, 2009 07:59 PM

Like you CUTURBLAW, I wonder about the sanity of these people . I just wish they would share some info on this fantastic new energy source they seem to be so fond of !

Posted by: Robert | November 18, 2009 09:10 PM

Just like the Turk plant debate, the White Bluff modifications will be subject to the same PR campaign from both sides. I find that the Sierra club types would just have wind mils all around Stuttgart, so them huge blades can wack hundreds of the birds to pieces. Good for me. It's clean power, plenty of duck meat if you catch it in the air under the windmills, and if the wind isn't blowing, then there is no electricity for Grandma's oxygen machine. Well, she ain't got no oxygen machine because Obama care taxed it out of reach for her to afford on her no-longer-inflation-indexed medicare benefit.

Just like Turk will be built, so will the modifications to White Bluff to re-authorize its air permit. Yea, the price is steep and once done, the plant will generate less power (its going to be rated at a lower total capacity to comply with the emissions regulations), but it will be reliable base load power that will be cheaper than building new generation. It's not a bargain, but it's a good value considering the other options, unless you want no electricity, then I can only suggest cancelling your electrical service and protest that way. If enough people go 'off-grid', that will show those greedy electrical utilities (i.e. Entergy and their rate increase to pay for country club dues for corporate executives).

Let the Don Quixote references fly!

Posted by: JStevens | November 18, 2009 09:46 PM

Arkansas Blog

Save our ducks

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