Status of Proposed Coal-fired Power Plants in Kansas

Prepared by Kansas Chapter, Sierra Club - 8-28-06

Summary
Approximately 3,100 Megawatts (MW) of new coal-fired power plants are currently proposed for installation in Kansas by 2012.

Sunflower Electric Power Co.
Sunflower Electric has proposed a 1,980 MW coal-fired power plant consisting of three 660 MW (gross) pulverized coal boilers. Two of these boilers will be owned by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association of Colorado. They will be operated by Sunflower, but the power will be sent to Colorado. It's unclear where Sunflower will sell the power from the third boiler. These are unregulated plants that will be located at the site of Sunflower's existing 360 MW coal plant next to the Arkansas River at Holcomb, just west of Garden City. Since the Arkansas River rarely contains visible water, the plants will rely on groundwater from the High Plains aquifer. The company is in the process of obtaining 30,000 acre-ft/yr of water rights.

Sunflower was granted a permit for one 650 MW boiler in 2002 and the permit was extended for 18 months. However they never started construction and the permit expired in September of 2005. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment required Sunflower to combine the three new boilers into one permit application.

In June KDHE declared the permit application complete. That means Sunflower has submitted the required information, but it does not mean KDHE will accept what Sunflower wants in the permit. KDHE has said they intend to issue the draft permit for public comment by the first week of September.

Westar
Westar is the largest power provider in Kansas. They have announced their intention to construct an 850 MW coal fired plant for completion by 2012. They have not yet announced the site nor have they applied for a permit. They have indicated they do not intend to use any wind power.

BPU
The Bureau of Public Utilities is a municipally owned utility serving Wyandotte County which encompasses Kansas City, Kansas. They have announced their intention to build a 250 - 300 MW coal fired plant in Kansas City, KS. Completion is planned for 2012.

BPU has engaged the engineering firm, Black & Veatch, to perform planning and design. Along with the leader of a downwind citizens group from Platte Co. Mo the Chapter's technical advisor (C. Volland) met with staff members of BPU on May 31. They said their review is from scratch, and nothing is set in stone. Wind power will likely be part of the mix. Volland sent BPU a copy of the Chapter's wind study. The BPU's resource plan is expected within 6 months.