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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| Deal Reached On Kansas Coal Plant |
| 2009-05-07 |
| A deal between Kansas' new governor and a utility would allow one coal-fired power plant to be built in western Kansas. The deal between Gov. Mark Parkinson and Sunflower Electric Power Corp. President Earl Watkins is contingent upon the Legislature passing a comprehensive energy package that would include incentives to use renewable energy sources. Parkinson told reporters about the agreement at a news conference Monday. Hays-based Sunflower had wanted to build two plants in Holcomb. Parkinson said the agreement allows one 895-megawatt plant with an unprecedented level of measures to offset carbon-dioxide emissions. Parkinson's predecessor, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, last month vetoed energy legislation that included the two Sunflower plants. Sebelius resigned to become U.S. health and human services secretary. House statement at link. This has been going on for 19 months. There was a statement that this would not pass and resisting the inevitable renewable energy push was "futile". |
| Posted by:swksvolFF |
| #15 Need a job in a town with low cost of living, lower crime rates, and decent people? Try western Kansas.......we'd love to have you. Be warned though, we're mostly a RED state. :-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-05-07 21:58 |
| #14 >> Everyday a Wildcat(KSU) I would just like to say that I heart this poster because my school enjoying kicking his in the jimmy. Oh, and also, the sister of the Mafia is a doctor in Pratt. I consider it missionary work. /I keed |
| Posted by: Mizzou Mafia 2009-05-07 20:39 |
| #13 Folks, wind energy and coal energy cost the same dollar bill to build per megawatt. Only difference is coal power is available 24/7/365. Capital costs are similar per rated MW but the coal plant averages 90+% rated power while the wind turbine averages 30%. Even w/ no fuel costs, wind power still costs 2-3X coal and screws up grid reliability that requires expensive backup (another hidden cost). Wind power is really powered by tax subsidies. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-05-07 20:21 |
| #12 Greetings from SW Kansas all, As I type we're bringing up an old gas fired unit (vintage 1972) for replacement power for the current Holcomb coal plant. The current Holcomb plant is the cleanest in the state (there's 15) but came online in 1983. Folks, our current plant is unlike any you have probably ever seen. Come see us, we have nothing to hide; in fact, we like showing the place off. I believe the Katy has left the state and gone to impose her might upon the masses via DC. Why, the swine flu epidemic is already showing signs of retreating and she hasn't been on the job a week or two. Folks, wind energy and coal energy cost the same dollar bill to build per megawatt. Only difference is coal power is available 24/7/365. I hope that others see that 1500+ jobs during the 46 month construction period as a good thing based upon the current situation. Lord knows it could help the budget situation. Afterall, this is a 2-3 BILLION dollar project. Surely 823 million dollar shortfall could be slightly impacted by something of this scale. Need a job in a town with low cost of living, lower crime rates, and decent people? Try western Kansas.......we'd love to have you. Be warned though, we're mostly a RED state. |
| Posted by: Everyday a Wildcat(KSU) 2009-05-07 19:26 |
| #11 I think it was 4 of 5 who said, "Resistence is Futile." |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2009-05-07 18:48 |
| #10 Maybe so, but a lot of people around this area see the benefit, and the commentary on these articles showed a majority of pro-build opinions. It is the opinion of many out this way that the refinary project was cancelled because the company didn't want to play footsie with the governor. It seemed like every time a deal was imminent between state congress and the governor some pro-environment report would get pushed on TV, even the Sierra Club come out here to 'protect the vast unspoiled wilderness' of West Kansas. It always seemed like it was just a couple votes short of an override; So yes, when Sebelius' possee is out but the State Supreme Court is another matter entirely. TW, we hope so. The wind farms out here right now are a joke, though there are some such around Montezuma KS and Woodward OK which seem to be at least making an average effort. The grid needs major work in order to accomplish this dream. When gasoline prices went up last summer Kansas was not too bad a place to be with the refinaries in El Dorado KS. Our KSU Wildcat may have some more info on this, if so inclined. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2009-05-07 18:47 |
| #9 Later, when the state's administrateive agencies have been purged of Sebelius' appointees, another. But Kansas lost the real gem when the coal plant decision caused a multi-billion dollar refinery project proposed for western Kansas to go to N. Dakota instead. Folks who want to build anything in Kansas, particularly western Kansas, are few and far between. |
| Posted by: AzCat 2009-05-07 13:18 |
| #8 First one coal-fired power plant... then, somehow, later, while no one is looking, another? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-05-07 13:01 |
| #7 It's probably worth noting that Parkinson isn't really a much of a Democrat. He was a longtime Republican and an executive in the state Republican Party prior to jumping ship to run on the ticket with Sebelius. |
| Posted by: AzCat 2009-05-07 12:22 |
| #6 Parkinson's...., Gov. Kathleen Sebelius Hmmmm, no, I won't say it. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-05-07 09:49 |
| #5 Ohm, watt are they thinking. This sparks a huge debate that could shock everyone. |
| Posted by: kilowattkid 2009-05-07 09:37 |
| #4 Sorry. Reddy Kilowatt is a tool of the pig capitalist MAN, I of course meant Willie WiredHand - hero of workers. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2009-05-07 05:43 |
| #3 Resisting Reddy Kilowatts overtures not to smart in a farm state. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2009-05-07 05:41 |
| #2 I thought resistance is volts/current. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2009-05-07 01:37 |
| #1 Resistance is futile? Where have we heard that before? |
| Posted by: Muggsy Glink 2009-05-07 00:55 |