Just six days into office, Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson has signed an agreement that will let Sunflower Electric Power Corp build one 895-MW coal-fired power plant near Holcomb. The company had originally wanted to build two 700-MW coal plants, but this compromise will overcome a two-year stalemate that saw former governor Kathleen Sibelius veto the projects four times.
“We have been at an energy impasse for the past couple of years,” says Parkinson, a Democrat. “I thought it was time to bring an end to that impasse.”
The new project is expected to produce 6.67 million tons of CO2 emissions per year, as well as becoming a major source of airborne mercury, uranium, and sulfur dioxide. As part of the agreement, Sunflower will bolster its investment in wind energy, close two old oil-fired plants in Garden City, increase its use of biofuels, build two transmission lines to carry power west, and dedicate 1% of gross sales to energy efficiency programs.
Parkinson’s back room deal elated Sunflower executives and plant supporters, surprised most lawmakers and disappointed environmental groups. “Today, Kansas took a big step backwards,” said Sierra Club spokeswoman Stephanie Cole. “We cannot build new coal plants and claim to want to slow global warming at the same time.”
Kansas Governor, still wet behind the ears, is nevertheless this week’s Climate Change Double Dumb Ass.
You can call Parkinson’s press secretary, Beth Martino, at (785) 368-8500 to voice your displeasure, or send an email via a webform; You can also send an email to Wayne Penrod, Environmental Manager at Sunflower to voice your displeasure. He’s not doing a very good job, either.
Hi Richard,
Just as a clarification, I think Gov. Sibelius vetoed the plants *four* times!
-Zac
Thanks, Zac! I corrected the post to read four times.
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