environmental group applauds us court setback to sunflower’s $2 billion expansion

摘要

Further environmental review must be conducted of a pro-nposed expansion to Sunflower Electric Power’s coal plant in nwestern Kansas before any additional federal government per-nmits are issued, a federal judge said Tuesday.nCorporation Commission said as it approved the plant. The SCC approved nthe request by Dominion Virginia Power to construct and operate the plant non a 39-acre site in the Warren Industrial Park about 3 miles north of Front nRoyal. The facility is expected to be operational by December 2014. The nplant will be financed through a utility bill rider that begins April 1, which is nexpected to produce $34 million in annual revenue, SCC said. The aver-nage residential customer using 1,000 kW a year will see about a 65 cent nmonthly increase. SCC said the rider will be reviewed annually and modified nif necessary in future SCC orders. Also approved was an associated 900-nfoot, 500-kV transmission line and switching station.