The shockwaves of Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson’s deal with Sunflower Electric Power Corp. continued to reverberate around the Statehouse today.
Lawmakers who have fought for Sunflower’s proposal to build two coal plants in Western Kansas are delighted.
Lawmakers who opposed the plants – particularly Democrats – are somewhat dismayed by Parkinson’s about-face on the coal plants. He briefed Democrats this morning on the decision, and there were lots of questions.
Environmental groups who had expected Parkinson to champion their cause? Well, check out today’s statement from the Sierra Club:
“With the settlement Governor Parkinson offered to Sunflower Electric Kansas has given up its place as a national leader on clean energy. Under former Governor Sebelius Kansas was well-positioned to make contributions to slow global warming. This agreement is a significant set back. The concessions made to the coal industry will greatly outweigh any so-called benefits for the state. For instance, the carbon "offsets" cited in the agreement are generally questionable, unenforceable, and won't result in a reduction in global warming pollution.
The new coal plant actually increases Kansas' contributions to global warming. Kansas didn't need to swallow the coal plant that's a part of this agreement. While the country is moving away from polluting fossil fuels, Kansas has opened the door for outdated, dirty technology other states are rejecting. The agreement appears to invite Sunflower Electric to build another coal plant in two years. This is not a compromise, but a giveaway to the coal industry Kansans have stood up against.”
Environmental groups question the state’s end of the Parkinson-Sunflower deal. Recall, the compromise will allow Sunflower to build one 895-megawatt plant instead of two 700-plants. In exchange, Sunflower will agree to a series of environmental concessions designed to limit its carbon footprint.
Here’s a closer look at just a few of the concessions that Parkinson and Sunflower touted Monday:
- Sunflower will decommission two oil-fired power plants in Garden City. The plants, however, haven’t been used in years, and are kept around only in case of emergencies.
- Even better pollution controls than the original plant proposal. Parkinson and Sunflower CEO Earl Watkins said the new 895-Megawatt plant will incorporate the latest in technology to limit the carbon emissions. But look at this: Sunflower’s earlier 1,400 megawatt proposal would have produced 10.6 million tons of carbon emissions. The new proposal – 895 megawatts – would produce 6.67 million tons of carbon emissions. Works out to nearly the same ratio of carbon to megawatt.
- Sunflower agrees to build new transmission lines to carry power west. One of the transmission lines was already part of the plan.
- Sunflower agrees to build an experimental algae reactor that derives energy from the chemical processes of digesting algae. This too was part of Sunflower’s earlier proposal.
