from the Topeka Capital-Journal

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is endorsing a decision by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to consider carbon dioxide emissions only when evaluating air permit applications for new electric power plants.

KDHE Secretary Rod Bremby issued a “guidance document” on Monday limiting CO2 reviews to applications associated with power units. The document is intended to counter complaints that carbon regulation by the state harmed business investment.

The issue has been controversial since Bremby denied an air-quality permit in 2007 for a proposed coal-fired utility plant to be operated by Sunflower Electric Power Corp, of Hays. He based the decision on the likely emission of 11 million tons of carbon dioxide annually from the proposed plant at Holcomb.

The House Energy and Utilities Committee is scheduled to conduct hearings today on a bill to overturn Bremby’s ruling.

Sebelius said “imminent” federal regulation of carbon emissions raising the cost of operating fossil-fuel plants, opportunities to expand clean energy technology and the adequacy of base energy supplies in Kansas should make Kansas government and businesses think twice about embracing new coal projects.

“All of these facts has led us to one conclusion,” Sebelius said. “Now is not the time for new coal plants in Kansas.”

She said campaigns by Sunflower, the Kansas Chamber and other entities on behalf of the Holcomb project were unfortunate.

“For the past year,” the governor said, “we’ve seen legislators, lobbyists and even the Kansas Chamber of Commerce run a fear campaign telling businesses they’re in jeopardy because KDHE denied one, single permit.”

Sebelius said Bremby’s order “unequivocally sets the record straight. “Kansas has always been, and will always be, open for business,” she said.

Sunflower spokesman Steve Miller declined to comment.

Debate over the Sunflower plant has raged in the Statehouse for two years. Sebelius vetoed three pro-coal bills in the 2008 session.

A series of lawsuits have been filed seeking to overturn Bremby’s rejection of the air permit in October 2007.

You may download the Guidance Document from KDHE’s website: http://www.kdheks.gov/