TOPEKA | Backers of a proposed Western Kansas coal plant project Thursday made a final stab at compromise with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius Thursday.

And what's the compromise? A smaller project with fewer carbon emissions and more green add-ons. Sunflower Electric Power Corp. has reduced its request from two 700-megawatt plants to two 600-megawatt plants. That would reduce the plants' estimated carbon output by 15 percent, according to legislators.

Sebelius, who met with Sunflower officials Thursday, hasn't yet said whether she will accept the offer, though a decision is likely to come soon. Lawmakers return to Topeka next week and the coal project will be the dominant issue, just as it proved to be throughout most of this year's legislative session.

Sunflower hopes to add two 700-megawatt coal-burning generators to its existing Holcomb coal plant. The project was rejected last year, however, by Sebelius' appointee, Kansas Health and Environment Chief Rod Bremby.

Lawmakers vowed to resurrect the plant, and a majority of them (GOP and Dems) voted to strip Bremby's power and allow Sunflower to try again. Two bills to do just that have been vetoed by Sebelius.

While the Senate has already voted to override the first veto, the House has struggled to get the necessary two-thirds majority necessary.

In a statement, House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican, and Senate President Steve Morris, a Hugoton Republican, said the compromise addresses the concerns of critics, and should be accepted. They noted it would be the last offer before lawmakers return for their brief wrap-up session.

"Both chambers worked tirelessly to develop a compromise proposal that assures the development of needed baseload and renewable energy resources and promotes energy efficiency," Neufeld said in the statement. "Further, our approach reduces impacts on our environment, assures future power needs are met and creates jobs for Kansans."Lawmakers sounded an upbeat tone, but there's no denying that everyone - Sebelius, legislative leaders, the rank-and-file -  have a lot riding on the coal fight.

"We are encouraged by the Governor's apparent openness to other possibilities," said Senate President Morris. "We remain committed to this project and we feel this proposal addresses the objections stated in the Governor's veto message."

Sebelius' office released a statement saying she appreciated the meeting but noted that "many of the elements are similar to the two Senate bills which I previously vetoed."

Still, she's going to review the proposal and "It's my intention to be back in touch with legislative leaders prior to the start of the Veto Session."

A deal on the coal plant would diffuse a contentious fight that has not only pit Sebelius against the GOP-led Legislature, but also exposed an urban-rural split among lawmakers and driven a wedge between Democrats, some of whom support the plant and some of whom oppose it. 

While Sunflower's offer represents movement by the utility, it's still a long way from the offer Sebelius has made. The governor has said in the past that she would accept a single plant, but not two.

Here are the details of the compromise pitched Thursday, taken verbatim from the legislative statement:

      - Reduce size of each of the proposed generating units from 700 to 600 megawatts, immediately reducing the carbon dioxide footprint of the project by 15 percent.        - Accelerate renewable energy development to 20 percent of the retail peak power requirement by four years from 2020 to 2016.

      - Expand energy efficiency and load management programs, to help consumers conserve and better manage energy.      - Advance carbon capture technologies by making all reasonable efforts to develop an integrated bioenergy center in western Kansas.         - Commit to carbon dioxide measurement and verification by becoming a founding member of The Climate Registry, which requires third-party verification of member�s emissions profile.