A new report from an environmental advocacy group says the electric utility EVERGY is moving too slowly to close coal-fired power plants. The group says closing the plants earlier would cut emissions and save customers hundreds of millions of dollars. The Kansas Sierra Club used a computer model that compares the cost of building new wind, solar and battery storage to the cost of operating a coal plant. When the renewable energy options can meet electricity demands and fall below the cost of operating the coal plant, the model says it’s time to shut coal down and replace it. The Sierra Club’s report says EVERGY could replace all their coal plants as early as 2028. EVERGY says the Company has to consider more than just cutting emissions. They have to deal with the question of affordability and reliability.
The report says that modeling shows there are plenty of affordable clean energy options available and EVERGY doesn’t need to wait. They can move up the dates if only they would use the latest modeling techniques and the latest renewable energy cost data. EVERGY says closing all coal plants before 2030 wouldn’t be feasible or cost effective, because it would require adding more natural gas generation. EVERGY’s current plan calls for closing all its coal plants by 2039.
