Tag Archives: rural utilities service
Where’s the Outrage Over Coal Boondogles?
Back in 1980, Sunflower Generation Corporation in Kansas received $543 million in federal loans and loan guarantees (taxpayer money). Like Solyndra, they were not able to pay that money back. So they arranged deals with the federal government to “restructure” the loans, multiple times. Sunflower was unable to repay taxpayers due to financial strain related to over-built Holcomb I, the existing coal plant Sunflower owns. Continue reading
Clean Air Advocates Cheer Court Decision on Kansas Coal Plant Expansion
Much of Sunflower’s financial struggles stem from overbuilding capacity at their existing unit, Holcomb I, which is a scenario that could be repeated if Holcomb II is constructed since neither Sunflower nor Tri-State, the Colorado partner, has demonstrated the project is needed. Continue reading
Kansas Energy and the Bremby Decision: Four Years Later
Efforts continue to obscure the facts, derail the rule of law, and deny the public interest in order to benefit the coal plant project and its special interest allies, but Mr. Bremby’s decision four years ago remains as visionary and important an act of public service now as it was in October of 2007. Continue reading
The Coal Plant Boondoggle Goes to Washington
With Rep. Huelskamp in the lead, the Kansas Congressional delegation released an inaccurate public statement about the case, and sent a letter to USDA and the Department of Justice (DOJ) attempting to put political pressure on the administration. Even as they publicly attack environmentalists for delaying the coal plant, the Kansas Congressional delegation is asking RUS to engage in actions to delay the coal plant. Delay, it seems, is now the desperate tactic of Sunflower, Tri-State, and their political allies. Continue reading
Tell USDA/RUS to Stop the Sunflower Electric Coal Plant Bail Out
Our allies at Sierra Club and Earthjustice have created easy opportunities to take action and ask USDA/RUS to comply with federal law and protect the interests of taxpayers against the dishonest tactics of the pro-coal special interests. Continue reading
Judge Zaps Coal-Fired Electric Plant
By Ryan Abbott for Courthouse News Service WASHINGTON (CN) – The Rural Utilities Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to produce an environmental impact statement for the expansion of a coal-fired electricity plant in Holcomb, Kan., a … Continue reading
Judge Blocks Kansas Power Plant Project
By Gabriel Nelson for Greenwire (E&E Publishing subscription or trial required – reprinted with permission) A controversial plan to build a coal-fired power plant in western Kansas hit another bump in the road this week when a federal judge ruled … Continue reading
Ruling May Inhibit Sunflower Project
By Tim Carpenter for The Topeka Capital-Journal A judge’s sealed ruling raises questions about whether the federal government improperly skipped an environmental review of a proposed $2.8 billion coal plant in Kansas, environmentalists said Thursday. It’s unclear how damaging the … Continue reading
What Are We Fighting For?
This blog originally ran over seven consecutive days at www.gpace.org, addressing seven of the most common questions we have heard regarding the ongoing energy policy – coal plant debate in Kansas. As the public comment period approaches for Sunflower Electric’s Holcomb Expansion project, the following questions could be helpful resources as you prepare to write your comment. Continue reading
“Pay No Attention to the Taxpayer Behind That Curtain!”
Sunflower Electric might light the lamps on Main Street, but by betting huge amounts of taxpayer money on risky business deals – even as it decries government regulation – it’s acting more like Wall Street. Continue reading
