The distinct sound of backpeddling

It sounds like KCP&L is doing a little backpeddling. After meeting with Hyde Park neighborhood leaders, KCP&L has (at least publically) said that they don't want to disrupt neighborhoods with a type of substation that people in the neighborhood don't want.  They said that they will continue (start?) to work with the neighborhoods along Troost to come up with a suitable solution to the power needs. Fox 4 has the story

Obviously I embrace this...not just for the neighborhood of Hyde Park, but also for other neighborhoods that could be affected such as Beacon Hill, Troostwood, Ivanhoe Squire Park, etc.  Apparently the decision by the Stowers Institute to not start building immediately (due to another travesty that some legislators in  Missouri are resistant to good science) has bought them some time to come up with a viable (for everyone) solution.  Possible solutions include building a smaller substation (that wouldn't take up an entire block), using better energy sources that could help them not have to build a substation at all, or going to an alternative location.

I honestly think that KCP&L thought they could slide this through...but I applaud the people are demanding better.  And also thanks to Mark Forsythe for writing a good post on this earlier today. 

As a city, we need to be sure that development is in the best interests of everyone (not just carry a MIMBY mentality).  Here's to good thinking, and future development.  And thanks to KCP&L for listening, and for neighborhood and community leaders for stepping up.