TOPEKA, Kan.—A western Kansas utility’s partner hasn’t made a final decision about a new coal-fired power plant, but a spokesman acknowledged Monday that as an option for meeting its electricity needs.
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc., based in Westminster, Colo., is backing a Kansas environmental permit for the project proposed by Sunflower Electric Power Corp., Tri-State spokesman Lee Boughey said.
Sunflower, based in Hays, Kan., wants to build the power plant outside Holcomb, in southwest Kansas. Sunflower’s plans call for Tri-State to get most of the electricity generated by the plant, something that’s long been a sore point for environmentalists.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment had a hearing Monday in Topeka on a proposed permit for Sunflower’s project. About 150 people attended, voicing both support and opposition to the $2.8 billion project.
KDHE hopes to decide whether to issue the permit by the end of the year. Sunflower favors such a timetable because it would avoid new federal rules on greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming, which are set to take effect Jan. 2.
Boughey told the Lawrence Journal-World that Tri-State is looking at numerous options for meeting the future power needs of its customers in four states.
“Holcomb is one of those,” he said.
Boughey said that if KDHE issues the permit to Sunflower and the permit survives legal challenges, “then we decide whether to do it in the best interest of our customers.”
Sunflower has worked on proposals for additional coal-fired generating capacity since 2001. KDHE Secretary Rod Bremby rejected a permit for two coal-fired plants in October 2007.
But in 2009, after rancorous legislative battles over energy policy, Gov. Mark Parkinson brokered a deal with Sunflower for a single, 895-megawatt power plant. By one state estimate, the plant would be large enough to meet the peak electric needs of 448,000 homes.
Tri-State would claim about 78 percent of the electricity, or 695 megawatts.
Backers of Sunflower’s efforts have long said they’ll not only help Kansas meet its power needs but create economic development.
A new Kansas State University study, commissioned by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a pro-coal group, said the project would create nearly 1,900 construction jobs. The study also said it would add 88 permanent jobs to Sunflower’s payroll and create economic activity to generate an additional $40 million in sales tax revenues a year.
“At a time of economic downturn, this project will provide not only affordable energy, but jobs and tax revenue as well, all of which Kansans desperately need,” said Earl Watkins, Sunflower’s president and chief executive officer.
But during Monday’s hearing, Sierra Club spokeswoman Stephanie Cole questioned whether the permitting process is a “place-holding exercise” for Tri-State, wasting Kansas’ time and resources.
And Lawrence resident Karin Pagel-Meiners said Kansas should be focusing instead on renewable energy.
“Other states are moving ahead, and Kansas is falling behind,” she said.
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Online:
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association:
Sunflower Electric Power Corp.:
Kansas Department of Health and Environment:
Sierra Club:
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Information from: Lawrence Journal-World,
