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Text of governor's comment

The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. - Text prepared for delivery of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius's remarks Wednesday rejecting the latest coal plant proposal by legislative leaders.

As governor, it is my duty to protect the interests of Kansas citizens in every corner of this great state. Kansans count on me to look at each decision carefully, weighing not only the immediate benefits for today, but the costs and impacts for tomorrow.

We are at a critical period for energy policy in this state and this country. We must bridge the gap between our growing energy needs, and the time when carbon capturing technology is a commercial reality. We must move forward strategically - steering our state clear of the environmental, health and economic risks of massive new carbon emissions.

Which is why I am disappointed that, for the third time in a row, the Legislature is asking me to mandate that Kansas send the power we need - the power we create - to Colorado and Texas.

It has been made clear, in my recent talks with leaders of both Sunflower Electric and Midwest Energy, the 200 megawatts designated for Kansas from the proposed Holcomb project is the maximum available energy that Kansas could ever receive. It is all they have set aside for us.

Yet the power needs of Western Kansas already exceed 200 megawatts. Therefore, this proposal does not meet our projected energy needs - and does nothing to address the future needs in the remaining two-thirds of the state.

Since December of last year, my administration has sought a true compromise between those who want no new coal plants in Kansas, and Sunflower Electrics request for two large-scale, coal-fired power plants at Holcomb Station.

I believe the middle ground to be a single power plant, which emits less pollution and whose priority customers are - and would always be - Kansans.

After offering such a compromise to Sunflower Electric, they have yet to respond with an offer of their own.

Instead they delivered to me, on behalf of the speaker of the House and Senate president, a legislative ultimatum. I was told to report back to the legislative leaders, instead of working to reach a compromise with Sunflower Electric.

And while I appreciate the slight reduction in the size of the proposed project, the new proposal has nearly all of the problems as the two bills I vetoed.

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.

Again, this proposal releases Sunflower Electric from Kansas Corporation Commission oversight - thus removing all protection their customers have from massive rate increases. This idea is as reckless as it is unprecedented for a utility of this size.

I continue to strongly oppose stripping the KDHE Secretary of his power to protect the health and environment of Kansans. I also remain opposed to putting the regulatory permitting process into the hands of a part-time Legislature whose membership changes every two years. It sets a dangerous precedent and clearly puts us out of step with the rest of the country. The Kansas Legislature is proposing to put itself in the middle of the regulatory permitting process in a manner not found in any other state in the union.

The ultimatum I have been given contains all these problems, and would surely send our state in the wrong direction.

The decision to build coal-fired plants in one area of our state will impact ratepayers, taxpayers, the health of Kansans in every part of our state, for generations.

As governor, I must pursue a comprehensive energy policy which assures all of Kansas with base-load power, to continue economic growth, and at the same time protect the health and environment of our citizens now, and for generations to come.

I urge the Legislature to work with me on a new comprehensive energy policy - one that truly serves the needs of entire state.

Meanwhile, I am still ready and willing to work with all of the energy producers in Kansas to find that common ground on which true progress can be built.

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