Topeka – More than 40 Members of the Kansas House of Representatives Republican Caucus sent a letter to Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Roderick Bremby Wednesday, expressing their support of the expansion of the Holcomb Generating Plant as proposed by the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation and asking him to approve the expansion permit.

“This project offers our state the unique opportunity for tremendous economic development in a part of our state that has experienced a drop in its population and economy,” Speaker Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) said. “This is a 'win-win' for our state. Not only will this project be designed, constructed and operated in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, but it also will allow Sunflower to continue to provide lost-cost electricity to thousands of Kansans.”

Rep. Jeff Whitham (R-Garden City) whose constituents are served by Sunflower Electric, pointed out KDHE has spent the last year and a half holding public hearings and carefully reviewing the expansion application and the detailed plans.

“The North American Electric Reliability Council warned last year that power plants and transmission lines are not being built fast enough to meet demands,” Rep. Whitham said. “The Holcomb expansion will help take steps to fill the void that can only be met with new baseload generation -- the energy needed to be available at all times to power homes, industry, hospitals and schools in Kansas and neighboring states.”

Rep. Steve Brunk (R-Wichita), Chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, and other lawmakers toured the current Holcomb plant and learned about the proposed expansion earlier this month.

“We’ve been tracking and following this issue for more than a year now,” Chairman Brunk said. “The tour gave us an opportunity to see first hand how the expansion will greatly benefit our state. Those who have concerns should carefully review the application instead of relying on hearsay and rumors. If they do, they will learn what we did about the expansion - Sunflower will utilize cutting-edge technology that will allow it to operate as a bio-energy center in a way that provides much-needed power with the least amount of impact on our environment.”

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation is a regional wholesale power supplier that owns and operates gas and coal-fired generating plants and a 1,200-mile transmission system for the needs of its six member cooperatives, which serve 118,000 people spread throughout a 21,000 square mile area in western Kansas. Sunflower also provides power to regional utilities in western Kansas and in ten states.

Those House Republicans who signed the letter to Secretary Bremby:
Rep. Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls)
Rep. Don Dahl (R-Hillsboro)
Rep. Ray Merrick (R-Stillwell)
Rep. Jene Vickrey (R-Louisburg)
Rep. Rob Olson (R-Olathe)
Rep. Dick Kelsey (R-Goddard)
Rep. Steve Brunk (R-Wichita)
Rep. Mike Kiegerl, (R-Olathe)
Rep. Carl Holmes (R- Liberal)
Rep. Larry Powell (R-Garden City)
Rep. John Faber (R-Garden City)
Rep. Forrest Knox (R-Altoona)
Rep. Sharon Schwartz (R-Washington)
Rep. Lee Tafanelli (R-Ozawkie)
Rep. Kenny Wilk (R-Lansing)
Rep. Richard Carlson (R-St. Marys)
Rep. Don Myers (R-Derby)
Rep. Mario Goico (R-Wichita)
Rep. Gary Hayzlett (R-Lakin)
Rep. Virgil Peck (R-Tyro)
Rep. Bob Bethell (R-Alden)
Rep. John Grange (R-El Dorado)
Rep. Pat George (R-Dodge City)
Rep. Jim Morrison (R-Colby)
Rep. Mike O’Neal (R-Hutchinson)
Rep. Clay Aurand (R-Courtland)
Rep. Arlen Siegfreid (R-Olathe)
Rep. Joe McLeland (R-Wichita)
Rep. Lana Gordon (R-Topeka)
Rep. Joe Humerickhouse (R-Osage City)
Rep. Anthony Brown (R-Eudora)
Rep. Peggy Mast (R-Emporia)
Rep. Ted Powers, (R-Mulvane)
Rep. Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe)
Rep. Kasha Kelly (R-Arkansas City)
Rep. Clark Shultz (R-Lindsborg)
Rep. Bill Light (R-Rolla)
Rep. Jeff Whitham (R-Garden City)
Rep. Virginia Beamer (R-Oakley)