Kansas Allows Controversial Coal-Fired Power Plant

[KansDem]

Three years ago, Kansas became the poster child of the nation's clean energy movement, thanks to a pair of stalwart political leaders who refused to approve a coal-fired power plant that would have increased America's global warming gas emissions by millions of tons each year.

Today, in the absence of those strong leaders, Sunflower Electric Co. finally got state permission to build its pollution producer. Under a new administrator, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment granted the permit after department workers spent nights and weekends processing the permit, presumably so they could beat a deadline that would have forced the new plant to meet stringent pollution standards kicking in Jan. 2.

The permit likely would not have been issued if former KDHE chief Rod Bremby hadn't been forced out a few weeks ago after refusing since 2007 to allow the permit. Supported by then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Bremby disallowed the permit because of its global warming gases output. It was the nation's first such permit rejection. But, Sebelius eventually left to join President Obama's cabinet, leaving Bremby to fight the good fight in the face of highly politicized, industry-friendly opposition. Earthjustice had a strong hand in that fight.

--more--
EarthJustice

cross-posted in "Kansas" forum...

[DURHAM D]

1. I see that the plant is to be built in Holcomb, Kansas.

Holcomb is located in the southwest corner of the state and from that location they can pollute Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado as well. gheez

Holcomb is famous because of the murders of the Clutter family in 1959 as in the book and movie "In Cold Blood".

[zeaper]

2. The pollution will be minimal

Any new plant built in the US will have very little pollution-if they do pollute they will be breaking the law (the Clean Air Act).

[KansDem]

3. Well, they made certain they could pollute as much as possible

...the Kansas Department of Health and Environment granted the permit after department workers spent nights and weekends processing the permit, presumably so they could beat a deadline that would have forced the new plant to meet stringent pollution standards kicking in Jan. 2.

So they will be polluting more after January 2 than had they submitted their permit after the deadline.

[phantom power]

4. Unless you count CO2, which is going to kill us all.

They're allowed to dump just as much of that into the air as they please.

[joshcryer]

8. Obama's EPA classified CO2 as a pollutant. ;)

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/08D11A451131BCA585257685005BF252

[joshcryer]

7. EPA classified CO2 as a pollutant, and this plant is not Coal-CCS.

So yes, it will pollute.

[LawnKorn]

5. Republican Capitalists are like cock roaches

These power plant guys are like cock roaches. You can't exterminate them, and they just keep coming back out of the woodwork until they win. Why can't there be a way to deign a permit permanently and not have these scum bags just keep reapplying until they get what they want?

[txlibdem]

6. Looks like Kansas voters need to kick all those responsible out of office

Maybe that will help future politicians understand that there are consequences to stupid decisions.