By Scott Rothschild in the Lawrence Journal World

Topeka — The fight over building two coal-burning electric power plants in southwestern Kansas starts again today with a public hearing on House Bill 2182 in the House Energy and Utilities Committee.

The bill makes no mention of the proposal to build two 700-megawatt coal-fired plants near Holcomb in southwestern Kansas.

But it limits the authority of Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Roderick Bremby in a way that will require him to approve permits for the plants, according to opponents of the project.

Bremby rejected the project in 2007, citing health and environmental concerns. He was backed up by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius who vetoed three bills in 2008 aimed at overturning Bremby’s decision.

Supporters of the project were unable to gather the two-thirds majority needed to overturn the vetoes but have vowed to try again during the current legislative session.

The committee hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Room 783 of the Docking building.