Anti-coal groups seek promotion of renewable energy (KS)

[jpak]

http://cjonline.com/stories/120106/leg_powerplants.shtml

A coalition of environmental groups joined Thursday in pressuring Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to vigorously promote renewable energy sources and impose a moratorium on building coal-fired power plants.

"We ask the governor to stop new coal plant construction and take steps to move Kansas forward without endangering the health of Kansans," said Jennifer Byer, of True Blue Women.

That group is among five sponsoring a rally 11 a.m. Saturday at the Statehouse to express opposition to a proposal by Sunflower Electric Power Corp., of Hays, to build three coal power plants in the southwest Kansas community of Holcomb. Sunflower maintains the $3.6 billion project would create 400 permanent jobs and have an $8 billion impact to the state's economy. Construction could create 2,000 temporary jobs.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment extended until Dec. 15 a deadline for accepting public comment on Sunflower's request for an air-quality permit required to start construction.

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