Deal Reached on Coal Plants

A deal between Kansas’ new governor and a utility would allow one coal-fired power plant to be built in western Kansas.

The deal between Gov. Mark Parkinson and Sunflower Electric

Power Corp. President Earl Watkins is contingent upon the

Legislature passing a comprehensive energy package that would

include incentives to use renewable energy sources.

Parkinson told reporters about the agreement at a news

conference Monday.

Hays-based Sunflower had wanted to build two plants in Holcomb.

Parkinson said the agreement allows one 895-megawatt plant with an

unprecedented level of measures to offset carbon-dioxide emissions.

Parkinson’s predecessor, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, last month

vetoed energy legislation that included the two Sunflower plants.

Sebelius resigned to become U.S. health and human services

secretary.