News4/10/2009 Tri-State forced to evaluate long-term resource plan, remains committed to Holcomb Expansion Project
Hays, KS—April 10—One of Sunflower’s partners in the Holcomb Expansion project issued a news release today stating that it is reevaluating its long-term resource plan that includes options for new coal-based resources in Kansas. Earl Watkins, Sunflower’s President and CEO, commenting on the release said, “We understand that Tri-State has immediate needs for generation resources that have been hampered by the untimely delays in our Holcomb Expansion project. Sunflower and Mid-Kansas have the same concerns for the consumers served by our Member cooperatives.”
Watkins continued, “We have fought hard in the legislative process to return Kansas to a place with regulatory certainty where businesses can thrive. Unfortunately, a small minority have been successful in obstructing our cooperative efforts to build the cleanest coal plants in the nation. If this minority prevails, there is no question in my mind that electric prices will increase dramatically as a result of these policy choices that will not allow our Member’s customers access to clean, low-cost coal.”
Sunflower has worked closely with the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas Livestock Association, and with union groups to advance comprehensive energy legislation that has received strong bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate. “We will continue to fight alongside these groups for regulatory certainty and with our Member cooperatives who simply want to provide reliable, low-cost electricity to the 400,000 people they serve in central and western Kansas,” Watkins said.
“If we are successful, billions of dollars will be invested in Kansas, jobs will be created, and the predicted increase in the price of electricity will be mitigated by these investments,” Watkins said. “The simple fact is that if we are not successful, all of these benefits will be lost.”
To view Tri-State Generation and Transmision Association's latest story regarding their long-term resource plan, click here. Media Contact
Cindy Hertel – Telephone 785.623.3341 – Cell 785.259.0209
email: chertel@sunflower.net About Sunflower— Sunflower Electric Power Corporation is a regional wholesale power supplier that operates a 1,257 MW system of wind, gas, and coal-based generating plants and a 2,300-mile transmission system for the needs of its six member cooperatives who serve more than 400,000 customers living in central and western Kansas. Visit Sunflower’s website at http://www.sunflower.net
Sunflower’s member cooperatives include Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Dighton; Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Ulysses; Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Norton; Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Dodge City; Western Cooperative Electric Association, WaKeeney; and Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Scott City, Kansas.
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