As expected, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius today rejected the “compromise” coal plant proposed by legislative leaders. “The latest proposal still builds two large coal-fired plants, with the purpose of sending 83 percent of their energy out of the state, and creating nearly 10 million tons of new carbon dioxide each year,” Sebelius said. She also noted that the bill still puts the Legislature “in the middle of the regulatory permitting process in a manner not found in any other state in the union.” Another objection that hasn’t received much attention is that the proposal releases Sunflower Electric Power Corp. “from Kansas Corporation Commission oversight — thus removing all protection their customers have from massive rate increases.”
Instead of this weak compromise, Sebelius is proposing a true middle ground of building the one plant that was approved earlier.
