Conflict of Interest? Forsee Also A Board Member for Great Plains Energy, Which Is Actively Opposing Climate Legislation

As noted Tuesday, University of Missouri System President Gary Forsee is publicly opposing the comprehensive energy legislation being debated in Congress despite his previous promises to be leader in new technologies, clean energy, and responsible environmental policies. 

In addition to questions about why he's chosen to stand down from his commitments and stand up for the status quo, Forsee also has a few questions to answer about potential personal conflicts of interest.

When Forsee isn't serving as President of the University of Missouri system or thinking about how to spent some portion of his enormous Sprint Nextel severance package, he also sits on the the Board of Directors for Great Plains Energy Incorporated, the holding company of Kansas City Power & Light and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company. 

KCP&L, as you may know, is actively opposing the Congressional climate legislation, saying it would force them to reduce their emissions too quickly and might force them to "retire some portion of our coal-fired fleet."

As a director for the corporation, Forsee is compensated with stock, the value of which obviously fluctuates in the market (coincidentally, the value of CXP stock peaked at its highest point in a month the day Forsee's opposition to cap and trade legislation was published in the Columbia Daily Tribune). 

Forsee needs to explain if and how any concern for his personal fortune impacted his decision to reverse his previous promises and declare the proposed federal energy bills "bad for MU."

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