Governor agrees to coal plant compromise

subscribe

The Sunflower Electric Power CorporationÂ’s proposal for a cleaner coal plant in southwest Kansas has been passed, according to Sunflower Electric.

Governor Mark Parkinson signed a renewable energy bill as part of his agreement to overcome the 19-month feud between Sunflower and the governor's office.

The new deal allows the construction of a coal-powered plant — though one much smaller than the original plans called for — outside of Holcomb, Kan. The bill also calls for renewable energy sources, like wind, to provide 20 percent of the public utilities' electricity by 2020.

ParkinsonÂ’s plan also includes updates for transmission lines. This will allow the current wind farms to tie in to the new system.

“We’re not going to be able to fully develop the wind capacity in Kansas unless we have transmission capability,” said House Speaker Mike O'Neal, R-Hutchinson.

According to a Sunflower press release, the corporation will be allowed to build an 895-megawatt plant, with enough storage to provide power to approximately 448,000 households. Sunflower agreed to work toward off-setting potential carbon-dioxide emissions, which are estimated to be 6.7 million tons per year.

Sunflower had applied for a permit in 2006 to build its plant with three generating units at 2,100 megawatts. They were denied early due to carbon emissions, and the company fought for two years at the state level before the agreement was reached.

The Environmental Protection Agency determined that too much about this project has been altered to allow Sunflower to move ahead with its initial permit, according to David Bryan, spokesman for the EPA's regional office in Kansas City.

“We believe the proposal by Sunflower is a new project,” Bryan said. “That means we expect a public comment period, a technical analysis, all the things that need to be done.”

Related News

solar panel worker

Avista Commissions Largest Solar Array in Washington

SPOKANE - Official commissioning of the Adams Nielson solar array located in Lind, WA occurred today. The 28 Megawatt DC array is comprised of 81,700 panels that span 200 acres and generates enough electricity to supply the equivalent of approximately 4,000 homes annually.

“Avista’s interest in the development of Solar Select, a voluntary commercial solar program, is consistent with the Company’s ongoing commitment to provide customers with renewable energy choices at reasonable cost,” said Dennis Vermillion, president, Avista Corporation. “In recent years, an increasing number of Avista customers have expressed their expectations and challenges in acquiring renewable energy. Avista is pleased…

READ MORE
pumped stprage

Hydroelectricity Under Pumped Storage Capacity

READ MORE

saskpower building

Sask. Party pledges 10% rebate on SaskPower electricity bills

READ MORE

A general view of the Williams Gas Pipeline Transco tankers seen along the Hackensack River,

Nonstop Records For U.S. Natural-Gas-Based Electricity

READ MORE

scotland power

Clocks are running slow across Europe because of an argument over who pays the electricity bill

READ MORE