TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ A utility hopes a court hearing will get it a little closer to building two coal-fired power plants.

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. wants to build the plants in Finney County. Last year, Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby rejected an air-quality permit.

Bremby's decision resulted in six separate legal challenges. Two are in Finney County District Court.

Judge Philip Vieux has scheduled a hearing for 9 a.m. Tuesday on whether the two cases should be dismissed.

Sunflower and a partner filed the challenges, but Sunflower spokesman Steve Miller says it hopes they're dismissed so other challenges can go forward.

Legislators tried this year to clear the way for the plants, but Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed three bills.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)