The Garden City Telegram
NEW E-Edition!
Subscription
Required
Add Your Comment | Read (0) Comments
Permit process moves forward in planned Sunflower expansion
Published 7/1/2010 in Local News
By SHAJIA AHMAD
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has released a draft air quality permit and scheduled three August public hearings in response to Sunflower Electric Power Corp.'s request to construct a new 895-megawatt, coal-fired plant at its Holcomb station.
In January, Sunflower finished applying for the air quality permit to build the new plant, following an agreement brokered last year by Gov. Mark Parkinson on a new comprehensive energy plan that helped pave the way for the construction of the new plant.
The public hearings to allow Kansans to comment on the project are scheduled for Aug. 2, 4 and 5 in Overland Park, Salina and Garden City, respectively.
In a debate that began in 2006 when Sunflower first proposed building three 700-megawatt, coal-fired power plants at its Holcomb site, the project came to a standstill when the KDHE denied the energy firm its air quality permit in October 2007 for an expansion involving two coal-fired power plants. At the time, KDHE Secretary Rod Bremby considered the possibility of harmful carbon emissions from Sunflower's expansion efforts, citing a state attorney general's opinion in defense of his decision.
Sunflower officials said Wednesday they were pleased with the KDHE's announcement that it's moving forward with Sunflower's newest request.
"We appreciate the professionalism and expertise of the KDHE technical staff, which has drafted a stringent permit that protects the environment and follows strict state and federal laws," Earl Watkins, Sunflower's president and CEO, said in a release. "The draft construction permit is an important step in meeting future base load generation needs of the people of central and western Kansas. The project will also provide significant economic benefits for the entire state."
According to Sunflower officials, the proposed project will require about 1,900 construction jobs at peak, generating more than $121 million in wages during a projected 48-month construction cycle.
Cindy Hertel, a Sunflower spokeswoman, said once completed, the unit will require about 70 additional full-time positions with annual wages totaling more than $5 million.
Some anti-coal advocates already have weighed in on the KDHE's announcement.
"Citizen input was not allowed in the agreement Gov. Parkinson reached with Sunflower last year, and our hope is that the public will recognize that the permit hearings are an important opportunity to have our concerns with this project considered," Stephanie Cole, a Kansas Sierra Club spokeswoman, said in a release. "For Sunflower's minimal power needs, building a near 900-megawatt coal plant is quite possibly the most risky option for ratepayers and the environment."
Cole cited coal plant development across the country that is facing regulatory uncertainty, lack of financing and an awareness of the financial risks coal plants pose to ratepayers. Due to record-setting clean energy growth and dramatic increases in efficiency, no new coal plant has broken ground for construction in the last 18 months, according to the Sierra Club.
A copy of the draft permit, application, supporting documentation and information relied upon during the permit application review process are available for public review at http://www.kdheks.gov/bar/index.html through Aug. 15.
Copies of the draft permit and all supporting documentation also can be reviewed at the KDHE Northwest District Office, 2301 East 13th St., Hays, or at the KDHE Southwest District Office, 302 W. MacArtor Road, Dodge City.
The KDHE also will accept written comments until Aug. 15 via e-mail to sunflowercomments@kdheks.gov or in writing to: KDHE Bureau of Air, Attn.: Sunflower Comments, 1000 S.W. Jackson, Suite 310, Topeka, KS 66612-1366.
Public hearings
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has scheduled the following public hearings:
- Overland Park — Monday, Aug. 2 at 2 and 6:30 p.m. at Blue Valley Northwest High School, 135th and Switzer, Overland Park.
- Salina — Wednesday, Aug, 4 at 2 and 6:30 p.m. at the Highway Patrol Training Center Auditorium, 2025 East Iron, Salina.
- Garden City — Thursday, Aug. 5 at 2 and 6:30 p.m.
801 Campus Drive, Garden City
In each location, the public hearing will begin at 2 p.m. and continue until all participants present have an opportunity to offer written and/or verbal comments, but no later than 5 p.m. The hearing will reconvene at 6:30 p.m. and continue until all verbal and/or written comments have been submitted by participants. People requiring special accommodations to participate in the public hearings should notify Linda Vandevord at (785) 296-6423 by 5 p.m. July 23.
Found 0 comment(s)!