The Kansas Department of Health and Environment held public hearings this week in Overland Park, Salina, and Garden City about an air emission source construction permit for Sunflower Electric Corporation to build a new 895 megawatt power plant near Holcomb, Kansas.

KDHE accepted written statements and/or 3-minute oral presentations during the hearings.

There were 85 speakers in Overland Park, about 60 in Salina, and an unknown number in Garden City.

The comment period ends Aug. 15, 2010.  It’s not to late to send comments.  See the KDHE page for details, but send public comments by E-mail to SunflowerComments@kdheks.gov, or by regular mail (must be postmarked by Aug. 15) to

Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Air
Attn: Sunflower Comments
1000 SW Jackson Suite 310
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1366

We grouped the presentations into similar topics and created the YouTube videos below of some of the participants in the Overland Park hearing.  The videos show the highlights from the 3-minute presentations.

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Residents of Garden City and Finney County

Several Garden City and Finney County community leaders traveled the nearly 400 miles to speak at the KDHE hearing in Overland Park about how the proposed new facility would help their area.

Speakers appearing in the video below are:

• Dr. Rick Atha, Superintendent, USD 457 , Garden City Public Schools
• Scott Taylor, Presdient/CEO, St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City
• Paul Joseph, Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce
• Eric Depperschmidt, Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance
• Bryce Nolde, Rok-Hard Ready Mix
• Ron Schwartz, Trustee, Garden City Community College
• John Doll, Garden City Commission
• Randy Partington, Finney County Administrator
• Larry Jones, Finney County Director, District 5
• Reynaldo Mesa, Garden City Commission
• Tanner Lucas, Garden City Public Information Manager

Also see: Sunflower Electric getting strong support in proposed plant’s home county, Lawrence Journal-World, Aug. 5, 2010.

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Elected Officials

Several Johnson County elected officials spoke at the hearing.  Those appearing in the video include:

• State Senator and Lt. Gov. Candidate Jeff Colyer, R, Overland Park
• State Senator Karin Brownlee, R, Olathe
• House Majority Leader Ray Merrick, R, Stilwell
• House Speaker Pro Tem Arlen Siegfreid, R, Olathe
• State Representative Forrest Knox, R, Altoona
• Johnson County Commissioner Ed Peterson, D, Fairway

All officials but JoCo Commissioner Ed Peterson spoke in favor of the new plant.  Peterson wanted to take a slow approach and look more at certain ozone regulations.

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Opposing Groups

Several groups opposed building the new Holcomb Power Plant. The Sierra Club and the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy (GPACE) had an indoor rally before the Overland Park hear started.

Individuals speaking in the video below are:

• Bruce Nillis, Sierra Club, Washington, DC.  Daily Kos Blog.
• Scott Allegrucci, Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy (GPACE), Topeka
• Dr. Meril Hazlet, Climate + Energy Project, Lawrence
• Leonore Row, League of Women Voters of Kansas
• Stephanie Cole, Kansas Sierra Club
• Craig Volland, Kansas Sierra Club
• Kelly Jacobsen, GPACE employee but speaking for herself

Religious Groups Opposing Plant

• Thad Holcombe, Ecumenical Christian Ministries
• Chuck Gillam, Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition
• Jerry Rees
  • Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition,
  • Kansas Interfaith Power & Light (original page with Climate + Energy Project),
  • Presbyterians for Earth Care
• David Nachman, Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition
• Vivian Gibbens, St. Andrew Christian Church Group for Ecology

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Business Leaders Favoring

Business leaders and other individuals in favor of the plant speaking in the video below are:

• Earl Watkins, President/CEO, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation
• Stuart Lowry, Kansas Electric Cooperatives
• Derrick Sontag, Americans for Prosperity Kansas
• Ken Eckles, Kansas Chamber of Commerce
• unidentified speaker from Graham County Economic Development
• Les Evans, Kansas Electric Power Cooperative
• Jannsen Bruse, Kansas Municipal Energy Agency
• Bob Bibb, Chairman, Bibb Engineers
• John C. Wadsworth, Piping and Equipment Company
• Larry Garmany, boiler expert

Union Groups Supporting Holcomb 2 Power Plant

• Richard Taylor, Business Manager, Central and Western Kansas Building and Construction Trades Council
• David Kendrick, Business Manager, Greater Kansas City Building Trades Council
• Jerry Horseman, Boilermakers Local 83
• Larry Horseman, President, Boilermakers Local 83
• Randy Cruse, Business Manager, Boilermakers Local 83
• David Schneider, President, IBEW Local 304
• Robert Goodrick, IBEW 124 member
• Scott Grandon, Pipefitters Local 533 member

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Related:

• Hundreds show coal plant expansion hearing, The Southwest Times (Liberal, KS), Aug. 9,2010.
• Proponents, opponents air opinions of Sunflower proposal, Garden City Telegram, Aug. 5, 2010.
• Hearing held on coal-fired plant, Salina Journal, Aug. 5, 2010.
• Sunflower Electric getting strong support in proposed plant’s home county, Lawrence Journal-World, Aug. 5, 2010.
• Jobs pitted against environment at coal-fired plant hearing, Lawrence Journal-World, Aug. 4, 2010.
• KDHE Holcomb Power Plant Hearings, Kansas Watchdog, Aug. 4, 2010.
• Supporters, opponents voice opinions on coal-fired power plant sought in southwest Kansas, Kansas City Star, Aug. 2, 2010.
• Stimulus Funds to Pay Half of Smart Electric Grid in Lawrence, Kansas Watchdog, Nov. 29, 2009.

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Contact: Earl F Glynn, earl@kansaswatchdog.org, KansasWatchdog.org