TOPEKA – Gov. Mark Parkinson says he’s being framed. He said Monday there’s no dirty deal to fast-track a state air-emissions permit for a new coal plant in western Kansas. In the wake of criticism of the recent departure of Kansas health and environment secretary Rod Bremby, Parkinson issued a statement defending himself against charges that he is unfairly pushing the KDHE to issue the permit. Parkinson said there is no back-room deal and he says he expects the KDHE to follow the law concerning the permit. After then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius resigned to take an Obama cabinet position, Parkinson surprised the political establishment and quieted a legislative gridlock over the proposed coal plant by working out a deal with Sunflower, the western Kansas utility that was seeking a permit to build two new coal-fired power plants. He said according to the deal he worked out with Sunflower, the utility and its supporters agreed to stop blocking alternative energy and conservation bills. In turn, he he said agreed that the KDHE wouldn’t use any rules stricter than federal air-quality rules in considering the permit. There’s no guarantee that Sunflower will get a permit to build the controversial coal-fired power plant, he said. However, Sunflower has been pushing the KDHE to issue the permit before the end of the year to avoid tougher federal clean-air rules that go into effect Jan. 1. Parkinson’s critics are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take over the Sunflower permit process.
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 3 p.m.
