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Stories focused on energy & environment topics throughout the state of Kansas.

Farm Bill May Ease Rules For Coal Plant

The U.S. House-approved farm bill contains a provision that environmentalists say would ease rules for building a coal-burning power plant in southwest Kansas.

Environmentalists have won federal court decisions requiring an environmental review before Hays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corp. can build a plant near Holcomb.

Bill Griffith, energy chair of the Kansas chapter of the Sierra Club, said that a section of the House's farm bill would essentially negate that requirement. Griffith said he isn't sure how the provision got into the farm bill.

Sunflower Electric spokeswoman Cindy Hertel said she had no knowledge of the provision.

The House-approved farm bill moved to the Senate, which has a separate farm bill. A conference committee is expected to consider differences between the versions.