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8/4/2010

MICHAEL STRAND

Of the nearly 60 people who spoke at Wednesday afternoon’s public hearing regarding Sunflower Electric’s plans to expand its coal-fired power generating plant near Holcomb, those in favor of the plant outnumbered those opposed by three to one.

Wednesday’s hearing was one of three planned around the state, with the third in Garden City today. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is holding the public hearings as part of Sunflower’s application to build a new, 895 megawatt plant.

In 2007, KDHE rejected a Sunflower application for two 700 megawatt plants in Holcomb; the company had earlier sought three 700 megawatt plants, for a total of 2,100 megawatts.

Nearly two dozen of those who spoke in favor of the new plant were members of pipefitter, plumber or boilermaker unions, or owned companies that are likely to get business if the plant is approved.


Read the rest of this story in Thursday’s Journal.