Deal Reached on Coal Plants
KSCB News - May 4, 2009 12:00 am
A deal between Kansas’ new governor and a utility would allow one coal-fired power plant to be built in western Kansas.
The deal between Gov. Mark Parkinson and Sunflower Electric
Power Corp. President Earl Watkins is contingent upon the
Legislature passing a comprehensive energy package that would
include incentives to use renewable energy sources.
Parkinson told reporters about the agreement at a news
conference Monday.
Hays-based Sunflower had wanted to build two plants in Holcomb.
Parkinson said the agreement allows one 895-megawatt plant with an
unprecedented level of measures to offset carbon-dioxide emissions.
Parkinson’s predecessor, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, last month
vetoed energy legislation that included the two Sunflower plants.
Sebelius resigned to become U.S. health and human services
secretary.