The campaign in support of President Barack Obama's energy reform plan will makes its physical presence known in Rapid City this week, with the opening of Repower South Dakota's West River office.

The one-person office at 520 Kansas City St., Suite 304, is the third office Repower South Dakota has opened in the state. The others are in Sioux Falls and Aberdeen.

Repower South Dakota is the state group affiliated with the Repower America campaign by Alliance for Climate Protection. Begun by former Vice President Al Gore, the campaign has offices is 22 states where congressional delegations are considered particularly crucial to approval of energy reform in Congress.

Rick Hauffe, communications director for Repower South Dakota in Sioux Falls, said the Rapid City office gives the campaign a statewide reach. South Dakota is a "key" state in the educational and lobbying campaign, he said. That's especially true for the Senate delegation, where Republican Sen. John Thune is an opponent of key parts of the reform package, and Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson is more supportive and Repower is working to solidify his support.

The effects of carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants is an important part of the debate. Obama's plan, being pushed by Democrat leadership, would impose limits on those emissions with economic effects that electric companies would feel and pass on to consumers.

Thune argues the cost is too much and the plan too heavy-handed in its effects on private business and consumers.

Hauffe said Repower South Dakota is encouraging people to contact Thune and Johnson in support of reform. But Johnson is an especially key vote if Democrats are to hold their strong majority in the Senate, where the vote could be closer than in the House.

Although the coal-issue is complicated in a state that relies heavily on coal-generated electricity, Hauffe said South Dakotans will see less-complicated benefits through reform incentives for wind power and other alternative energy sources.

"For South Dakota, the good news is that it creates a plan to move this nation from old energy habits to new ones," Hauffe said. "There are costs there. But for a state like South Dakota there is a huge upside. A clean-energy economy makes South Dakota a major power producer for the nation."

Edie Renner will be Repower South Dakota's staff member in the Rapid City office.

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com