KANSAS:
Coal plant backers meet with legislators to plan next steps
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TOPEKA, Kan. (The Associated Press) - Oct 27
Proponents of two coal-fired power plants in western Kansas are lining up support in the Legislature, hoping to overturn a state rejection of the plant's permits.
Executives with Sunflower Electric Power Corp. and lobbyists met behind closed doors Friday with powerful lawmakers as they mapped out their next steps.
"The main deal is we figure we have lost with one branch of the Kansas government and so we are going to do all we can with the other two branches to get this denial overturned," said Sunflower spokesman Steve Miller.
Last week, the Kansas secretary of health and environment, Ron Bremby, denied an air-quality permit for Sunflower's $3.6 billion project near Holcomb because of potential carbon dioxide emissions. The decision upset legislators who saw the project as an economic boon for western Kansas, and Sunflower officials said the plants would be among the cleanest coal burning power plants in the nation.
They also pointed out that neither state nor federal guidelines regulate coal-fired carbon dioxide emissions.
Among those meeting with the energy representatives in the office of Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, were Morris, House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, and state Rep. Carl Holmes, R-Liberal, chairman of the House committee that deals with utilities. Sunflower president Earl Watkins was also present.
"There are a number of us who believe that the secretary acted outside the scope of his authority to do this," said Morris after the meeting. He added that Sunflower is considering challenging the decision.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius wouldn't comment on a potential legislative fight over the power plant but environmentalists, who lauded the decision, said they're making preparations of their own.
"We are aware that there is likely to be some backlash on this issue," said Craig Volland of the Sierra Club's Kansas chapter. "The majority of the people in Kansas agree with the secretary's decision."
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