Kansas Energy at Crossroads

Kansas’ Democratic governor vetoed a bill in March that would have authorized two coal-fired power plants, while offering a compromise proposal for cleaner energy sources. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius also established an advisory group to make recommendations about ways to reduce the state’s carbon footprint.

The bill--approved by the Republican-controlled Kansas legislature--would have allowed the construction of two 700 MW facilities in the western part of the state. The plants could have emitted 11 million tons of greenhouse gases per year.


“On one hand, there is the promise of jobs, economic development and business that will be given to a neighboring state if Kansas does not jump at the chance,” the Pittsburg, Kansas Morning Sun wrote in an editorial about power plant construction. “On the other hand, are the emissions and a potential danger of global warning.”

Governor Sebelius also vetoed the legislation because it would have prevented her secretary of health and environment from holding utilities to emission standards that are stricter than the federal Clean Air Act.

In October, Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby denied a permit for the facilities because of pollution concerns.

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Sunflower Electric Power Corp. and its project partners, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Inc., Midwest Energy and Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, Inc., contend the plants would use low-sulfur coal from Wyoming. The Holcomb Station power plants would also include devices to control nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter emissions.

"We are experiencing significant growth on the Sunflower system, and we must add new coal generation to support our existing natural gas and wind generation assets," said Earl Watkins, Sunflower president, in an Environment News Service article. "If not resolved, this veto will unnecessarily raise electric rates for Kansas families and punish our Kansas workers and industries."

But Governor Sebelius thinks using coal power is shortsighted.

“Federal legislation has been introduced that would have the net impact of taxing carbon,” she said. “…Building additional coal plants now is likely to create a significant economic liability for Kansas in the future.”

Compromise

The governor came out with a compromise plan.

Sebelius and her administration would allow one coal power plant to be built if proper carbon sequestration equipment were in place. The companies would have to make a commitment to producing wind energy equivalent to 20 percent of the new coal plant‘s power capacity.

They would have to allow net metering in their service area, as well. The net metering would enable homeowners to sell wind and solar power back to the utilities, according to Nicole Corcoran, the governor’s press secretary.

The governor sees this as fair because utilities have already voluntarily agreed to boost the state’s wind energy mix to 10 percent by 2010 and 20 percent by 2020. Kansas hopes to reach 1,000 MW of wind capacity by the end of this year. It would be the seventh state to reach the milestone and the first without a renewable portfolio standard.

Also, the state’s utilities have committed to adopting conservation and efficiency measures to lower energy use by 10 percent by 2020.

Advisory Group

Sebelius wants Kansas to join 36 other states that are analyzing their energy sources and emissions. She issued an Executive Order to create the Kansas Energy and Environmental Policy Advisory Group headed by Jack Pelton, chairman of Cessna Aircraft Co.

The group will recommend strategies to mitigate pollution, diversify the state’s energy mix, conserve power and control energy costs. It will investigate the emissions regulations and energy portfolios of other states, as well.

The Center for Climate Strategies will assist Kansas with developing a climate change action plan. The composition of the 25-member advisory group will be announced in May.

Meanwhile, leadership in the Kansas legislature hopes to override the governor’s veto in the next month. But, at the moment, it doesn’t appear Republican lawmakers have enough votes for an override.