TOPEKA — A coalition of environmental groups have filed a lawsuit in the Kansas Court of Appeals challenging a state air permit issued last month for construction of a large coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas. In its lawsuit, Earthjustice said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment didn’t follow federal Clean Air Act standards when it hurried to grant the permit to Sunflower Electric Power before tougher federal standards went into effect Jan. 1. KDHE’s decision was another step in the series of events involving the controversial power plant. Under then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the KDHE had rejected the permit. The KDHE redid its process after new Gov. Mark Parkinson brokered a deal to allow a smaller power plant proposal. Sunflower said the permit will stand up to any court challenge. Sunflower seeks to build an 895-megawatt power plant near Holcomb.
Monday, Jan. 17, 1 p.m.
