Thu, Nov 26 2009
|
|
Kansas: Governor’s veto of coal bill stands The measure is a response to some legislators’ worries about CO2 and to criticism that not enough of the power from the new plants would stay in Kansas. Sunflower is relying on two out-of-state partners to help finance the project, and they’d get 86 percent of the new power.
Earl Watkins Jr., Sunflower’s chief executive officer, said the share of power allocated to it and a sister utility, Midwest Energy Inc., will meet their needs now. But he acknowledged that Sunflower expects demand to outstrip the new generating capacity after 11 or 12 years. “In 2018, 2019, 2020, if our load grows as we anticipate it, we’ll be looking at an additional piece of generation whether it will be in our service territory, together with other utilities, outside the state of Kansas,” he said. But Watkins also said: “It would be irresponsible today to pay for or claim or reserve an interest in the project for 10 or 15 years from now that we may not need.” The trailer bill requires Sunflower to offer 14 percent of the new power to Kansas utilities not involved in its project, starting with the Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City. Wyandotte County’s legislative delegation has been split on Sunflower’s project. That power would be taken from Sunflower’s partners, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc. of Westminster, Colo., and Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, in Amarillo, Texas. Those partners would still retain 72 percent of the power. All Kansas utilities would be required to pay the state 2 cents a month for each electric meter, although legislators expect that utilities would pass the charge to their customers. The $2.5 million raised each year would finance energy conservation efforts and research into clean energy. That includes research by a private institute at a bioenergy center Sunflower has proposed outside Holcomb. The center would capture some CO2 from the new plants, use it to grow algae and convert the algae into biofuels. Environmentalists and Sebelius have dismissed such efforts to win over reluctant legislators with “green” provisions. And Kansas City’s BPU didn’t embrace the trailer bill, either. Lobbyist Joe Dick said legislators who support Sunflower’s project approached him Tuesday but wanted a quick answer. He said BPU would have to consider many issues, including the cost of the new power. “To make that decision takes a lot more study — I’m talking weeks of study,” Dick said. “They gave me about six hours.” 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the State News section
Missouri: State ordered to pay $152,000 to janitorial company Kansas: National Guard to close 18 armories Oklahoma; Regulators approve ‘OU Spirit’ wind farm plan |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
