This interview of former Kansas Representative Carl Holmes presents his perspective on the energy and environmental issues that were considered by the Kansas Legislature during his time in office -- 1985-2013. He traces at least some of his interest in the detailed workings of the energy industry to his youth when he spent time observing the oil and gas industry in far southwest Kansas. Holmes describes developing a point of view that encompasses the need for diversity in the types of energy available in Kansas and across the country and his growing concern for the security of energy infrastructure, especially after the attacks on the U.S. in September 2001. During this interview Holmes provides insights to his approach to chairing a legislative committee and his dedication to ensuring that his fellow committee members had at their disposal the information necessary to make sound policy decision.

Some of those decisions included a 2006 multi-faceted energy bill that addressed many aspects of energy production including oil refining, pipelines, nitrogen fertilizer production, cellulosic ethanol production, integrated coal gasification, and power plants. Holmes discusses other complex issues including the controversy over plans to expand the Holcomb Power Station, addressing water pollution from a variety of industries, and underground storage safety issues, among others.

A printable copy of the transcript of this interview can be accessed at [ Ссылка ].

Former Kansas Representative Carl Holmes is a native Kansan who has lived and farmed in southwest Kansas most of his life. Holmes represented the 125th district in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1985 until 2013. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Colorado State University. During his time in the Legislature Holmes chaired committees that dealt with natural resource and energy issues. He developed expertise in those subjects through his diligent study and involvement in a variety of national organizations.

Holmes' career in public service began long before his service in the legislature. In 1977 he was elected to the City Council in his hometown of Plains, Ks and was appointed to the Southwest Regional Planning Commission. He subsequently became President of both the City Council and the Regional Planning Commission. He was appointed Mayor of Plains in 1982 and served the city in that capacity until 1989 when he moved to Liberal. While mayor of Plains he was elected to the position of President of the Kansas League of Municipalities. He also served as an elected member of the Board of the Groundwater Management District #3 in Southwest Kansas.

This interview was conducted by the Kansas Oral History Project, Inc. (KOHP), a non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) that records, transcribes, and makes available to the public, oral histories of various aspects of life in Kansas. KOHP is supported by donations from individuals and has received corporate grants from Humanities Kansas, Evergy, and ITC Great Plains. KOHP does not charge for non-commercial use of the oral histories it collects.

Suggested citation: Holmes, Carl (August 22, 2024) interviewed by Rex Buchanan. Video file of an oral history interview conducted for the Kansas Oral History Project, Inc. Retrieved from [ Ссылка ].

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