By Ken Silverstein | EnergyBiz
An interesting case is creating potentially unbearable headwinds for a Kansas-based coal plant. There, the state’s supreme court just reversed a state environmental ruling that had issued an air permit. The judges sent the case back to regulators, noting that consideration must be given to federal laws and proposals.
At issue is the Sunflower Electric Power Corp’s desire to build an 895-megawatt advanced coal facility in Kansas. But, last week, the Kansas Supreme Court revoked the permission that it had been issued in 2010. The high court unanimously agreed to remand the file to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, saying it did not consider the one-hour emission standards for nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. At the same time, regulators must think about the potential rules involving greenhouse gases, and mercury.
