Kansas lawmakers prepare to sue governor over her blocking rural co-op's coal-fired power plants

The battle between the Kansas legislature and Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, left, over greenhouse gases and two coal-fired power plants that a rural electric cooperative wants to build may be moving to the courts.

The battle began last year, when Sebelius' health and environment secretary denied permits for two power plants sought by Sunflower Electric Corp. on grounds they would produce too much carbon dioxide, the main gas responsible for climate change. Utilities and their legislative allies pushed through bills negating the decision, saying state law does not call for regulation of carbon dioxide, but Sebelius vetoed the bills. The Senate voted to override the veto of its measure, but the House fell four votes short. House leaders then introduced a resolution that would allow the legislature to sue the governor over the issue.

Sunflower has out-of-state partners in the project. "The plants would primarily supply power to Colorado and Texas customers, with 15 percent of the output reserved for use by customers in sparsely populated western Kansas," wrotes Dion Lefler of The Wichita Eagle. "The main opposition to the plan has come from a coalition of urban and suburban lawmakers, including Wichita-area Democrats, and Democrats and moderate Republicans from along the Topeka-Kansas City freeway corridor." (Read more)