By Scott Rothschild of The Lawrence Journal World
The Kansas utility wanting to build a giant coal-burning electric power plant is also interested in nuclear energy.
Hays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corp. has joined a consortium promoting the technology to build smaller commercial nuclear reactors and the regulatory changes needed to bring them to market.
“Sunflower’s board is pretty visionary. We are always investigating new technology,” Sunflower spokeswoman Cindy Hertel said Friday.
She emphasized the consideration of nuclear energy is in the beginning stages. “We’re just part of a consortium that says this is a viable technology that needs to be pursued,” Hertel said.
The consortium includes a number of utilities promoting a proposal by Babcock & Wilcox Co. to build small nuclear reactors that can be built in factories and then shipped to sites. Babcock, of Lynchburg, Va., now makes small reactors for the Navy.
Sunflower Electric is seeking a permit to build an 895-megawatt coal-fired plant in Finney County. Public hearings on the project are scheduled next month in Overland Park, Salina and Garden City.
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For more information, visit The Climate and Energy Project blog.
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