We Won! Sunflower Deal Is Struck!

After many long, hard hours of work, strategy and worry, debate, negotiations and veto sessions, lawsuits, trips to the capital and arm-bending of state legislators, there is a deal.* The deal allows for the construction and development of a new power plant in Holcomb, something Southwest Kansas, Garden City and Holcomb has spent years attempting to accomplish.* While it would be easy to bask in the afterglow of one victory, Chamber leaders urge diligence to see this project through to fruition.*

"While the economic impact of this smaller unit will not be as significant as the 1,400 MW proposed in the current permit application, this is clearly a 'win' for all parties" said Chamber board chair Neil Hawley recently.* "This allows Southwest Kansas to move forward."

Governor Mark Parkinson and Sunflower Energy CEO Earl Watkins recently announced they've struck a deal that would allow construction of a high-efficiency 895-megawatt mostly coal-fired power plant in western Kansas. Parkinson said he and Watkins negotiated the deal for five days that will provide for the super-efficient plant, extensive ancillary green energy features, meaningful net metering for private utilities' customers and a Renewable Energy Portfolio standard better than the one in the coal bill vetoed by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Parkinson said Secretary of Health and Environment Rod Bremby, who in 2007 rejected applications for two 700-megawatt coal-fired power plants, is on board with the agreement.

Parkinson in his announcement made a specific point addressing the opponents to this project asking that they accept the compromise and that everyone move forward for a better Kansas.

This legislative victory occurred immediately followed a recent lobby trip to Topeka by 15-18 Garden City Chamber and community leaders, arranged by Eric Depperschmidt with FCEDC. The group joined approximately 130 others throughout the state of Kansas in on the south capitol steps to show support for the passage of the Comprehensive Energy bill vetoed by then Governor Sebelius. The genius of the bill that passed will be borne out by the hoped for silence from the detractors of this project. The efforts of all involved were critical in achieving the victory.

"The Chamber is appreciative to all who have stayed the course and promoted Southwest Kansas during this long awaited project," Hawley added.