Sunflower Plant Gets Permit Extension

The state has given Sunflower Electric Co. an extension on its permit to build a coal-fired plant in western Kansas.

The unusual extension apparently will allow the company to avoid complying with new and stricter pollution laws when it builds the plant near Holcomb in western Kansas.

Robert Moser, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, issued the permit extension Thursday. The order gives Sunflower one year to begin construction after the Supreme Court rules in a lawsuit filed to stop construction of the plant.

That apparently will allow the Hays-based company to build the plant under pollution laws that existed when the permit was issued in December. The stricter pollution laws took effect in January.