Letters to the editor

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Nov 17, 2007

Opportunity in the wind

Sen. Steve Morris and House Speaker Melvin Neufeld "believe the state's energy policy must include a balance of base-load energy, renewable energy and conservation efforts." With so much of today's electricity generated by greenhouse-gas producing coal-fired power plants, achieving a balanced energy policy requires focus on renewable wind and solar energy, as well as energy efficiency to meet new energy generation requirements.

Fortunately, Kansas is blessed with wonderful resources of both wind and solar energy. Studies by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the Department of Energy show the economic benefits of wind energy generation, especially across the western half of our state, far exceed those of coal. Kansas has the potential of generating more than 7,000 megawatts of wind energy for our state and for export to those states that aren't blessed with renewable energy resources.

The NREL study indicates total economic benefits to Kansas for developing these Kansas wind resources will equal $7.8 billion. We can fight for a sustainable world for our children while capitalizing on an astounding economic development opportunity. How can we all not unite behind such a policy?

Our state and its energy providers must exploit and reap the rewards of our clean, renewable energy resources, wind and solar. Local and area energy providers, Westar, Kansas City Power & Light and the Empire District Electric Co., already have made substantial commitments to wind energy generation. And this is just the beginning of a new world of opportunity.

PHIL MORSE,Topeka

See how it works

After reading the article about the proposed roundabout on US-24 highway in North Topeka, I invite the officials promoting the roundabouts to sit near S.W. 53rd and Wanamaker between 3 and 3:30 p.m. on a school day. Maybe they will then understand that a roundabout on US-24 is a big mistake.

There is no comparison to the volume of traffic at 53rd and Wanamaker to the volume of traffic on US-24, so one can only imagine what a mess it will become. The backup at the Wanamaker intersection at certain times of the day is becoming a nightmare. One recent day, I sat at 53rd and Wanamaker, westbound, with seven cars in front of me waiting to get on Wanamaker. I counted 25 cars northbound before the first car could enter and proceed. To the south was a steady stream of cars with no end in sight.

Before the roundabout was built, there was a planning meeting. The questions were asked: Have you ever been out here in the morning and evenings when the school is starting and ending? Have you ever been out here on game nights? The flippant answer was, "Nope, can't say that I have."

The theory was that the heavy traffic really began at S.W. 41st and Wanamaker. Where did they think the traffic was coming from to get to that intersection? When are the transportation people and planners going to listen to neighborhoods and others who really travel those streets and roads?

PHYLLIS PETERSON,Topeka

Circle won't work

After reading the article about the North Topeka Business Alliance meeting hearing about the proposed roundabout at US-24 highway and Topeka Boulevard, it seems the state isn't listening to the people who actually live and navigate the north intersections.

Roundabouts do seem to be the current trend and, from what I've experienced, they work fine for light traffic car intersections. Living in North Topeka myself, the amount of traffic on US-24 is probably comparable to the Wanamaker corridor, though heavier with commercial traffic. What the Kansas Department of Transportation doesn't seem to be including in its calculations is the weight of the trucks, cement mixers and other heavy vehicles that will have to spin around in a tight circle to head for another direction.

All KDOT needs to do is to look half a mile down the road and see the lighted intersection at Rochester Road handling the same workload of traffic without incident or confusion.

A commercial carrier having to manage an unnecessary curve creates more danger for tipping over. Taking down the old bridge and putting in a four-way stop, though a bit more costly, would create the same path US-24 makes with the other busy intersections. Putting a circle between two squares can only confound the issue.

STEVE MAY,Topeka

Make members pay

Social Security funds have been misappropriated by Congress members to the tune of approximately $1.5 trillion.

Congress was supposed to replenish the funds, with interest, but that never did materialize.

Simple interest of 4 percent of the $1.5 trillion would amount to $60 billion, and that is only on the principal. The money Congress borrowed from the fund should have been paid back with compound interest.

Congress should enact a bill requiring all its members to pay $25,000 per year back into the Social Security fund until the shortage is replenished. This way, Congress would be held accountable to the people of the United States.

TERRANCE R. HAWBAKER,Atchison