A proposed coal-fired electricity plant received strong support from residents of the Kansas county where it would be built.

During a public hearing Thursday in Garden City, nearly every speaker told the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that they want the state to issue an air permit for construction of the expansion project by Sunflower Electric Power Corp. near Holcomb in Finney County.

There has been a lot of input on this proposal. In 2007, during a similar round of public forums, the KDHE received 774 written statements. This time they received more than 2900.

The hearing was the last of three meetings this week on the plant. A fourth hearing is planned but a date has not been set.

If you’d like to send in a written statement you have until August 15.

Email comments to: [email protected]

Mail comments to: KDHE Bureau of Air, Attn.: Sunflower Comments, 1000 S.W. Jackson, Suite 310, Topeka, KS 66612-1366