GARDEN CITY, Kan., Oct. 24, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Western Kansas government and business leaders have rallied in support of Sunflower Electric Power Corporation with formal resolutions in support of the cooperative's planned Holcomb Station Expansion Project.
"The Holcomb Station Expansion Project will bring with it new jobs and tax base --helping our communities thrive and grow," said Carol Meyer, President of the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce. "The project, with its advanced environmental controls, will meet all state and federal regulations, and is a perfect example of how a community benefits when an existing company expands and the economic base becomes more diversified."
Government bodies issuing resolutions in support of the Holcomb Expansion Project include:
-- Finney County Board of County Commissioners -- Kearny County Board of County Commissioners -- Garden City City Commission -- City of Holcomb City Council
"While recognizing the economic benefits of the project, the Finney County Commission is also mindful of the importance of protecting and maintaining a healthy environment for its constituency," said Pete Olson, Finney County administrator. "Over the past three decades, Sunflower Electric has maintained an excellent record of environmental compliance."
School districts and the community college also issued resolutions in support of the project. The institutions passing resolutions included:
-- Holcomb Public Schools (USD No. 363) -- Garden City Public Schools (USD No. 457) -- Garden City Community College
Additional business and leadership organizations issued resolutions to support the project, including:
-- Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce -- Finney County Economic Development Corporation
"Sunflower Electric should be applauded for its efforts to attract billions of dollars in investment to western Kansas and for providing reliable, low-cost power supplies," said Eric Depperschmidt, president of Finney County Economic Development Corporation. "Sunflower is also showing leadership with their plans for new wind generation, as well as an integrated bio-energy center at Holcomb Station."
The resolutions were drafted to support the project in advance of Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) public hearings scheduled to review Sunflower's air-quality permit. Hearings are scheduled in Garden City on Tuesday, October 24, Topeka on Thursday, October 26, and Lawrence on November 16.
The three public forums follow KDHE's published draft permit that will set emissions limits for three 700 MW electric generating units to be built at Sunflower's existing plant site south of Holcomb, Kansas. The process is used by KDHE to allow the public to comment on its conclusions on Sunflower's permit application, which was submitted on February 6, 2006.
"Official declarations in the form of resolutions are being combined with numerous letters from individuals and businesses to show that support for this project crosses political party lines, business sectors, all levels of the existing county workforce, and surrounding communities that understand this project is a win for all Kansans," Meyer said.
The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce is a member-based organization focused on community issues.