IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                             

September 26, 2007

HOUSE REPUBLICANS EXPRESS SUPPORT

FOR PLANT EXPANSION

Topeka – 40 Members of the Kansas House of Representatives Republican Caucus sent a letter to Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Roderick Bremby today, expressing their support of the expansion of the Holcomb Generating Plant as proposed by the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation and asking him to approve the expansion permit.

“This project offers our state the unique opportunity for tremendous economic development in a part of our state that has experienced a drop in its population and economy,” Speaker Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) said.  “This is a “win-win” for our state.  Not only will this project be designed, constructed and operated in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, but it also will allow Sunflower to continue to provide lost-cost electricity to thousands of Kansans.”

Rep. Jeff Whitham (R-Garden City) whose constituents are served by Sunflower Electric, pointed out KDHE has spent the last year and a half holding public hearings and carefully reviewing the expansion application and the detailed plans.

“The North American Electric Reliability Council warned last year that power plants and transmission lines are not being built fast enough to meet demands,” Rep. Whitham said.  “The Holcomb expansion will help take steps to fill the void that can only be met with new baseload generation -- the energy needed to be available at all times to power homes, industry, hospitals and schools in Kansas and neighboring states.”

Rep. Steve Brunk (R-Wichita), Chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, and other lawmakers toured the current Holcomb plant and learned about the proposed expansion earlier this month.

“We’ve been tracking and following this issue for more than a year now,” Chairman Brunk said.  “The tour gave us an opportunity to see first hand how the expansion will greatly benefit our state.  Those who have concerns should carefully review the application instead of relying on hearsay and rumors.  If they do, they will learn what we did about the expansion - Sunflower will utilize cutting-edge technology that will allow it to operate as a bio-energy center in a way that provides much-needed power with the least amount of impact on our environment.”

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation is a regional wholesale power supplier that owns and operates gas and coal-fired generating plants and a 1,200-mile transmission system for the needs of its six member cooperatives, which serve 118,000 people spread throughout a 21,000 square mile area in western Kansas. Sunflower also provides power to regional utilities in western Kansas and in ten states.

Those House Republicans who signed the letter to Secretary Bremby:

Rep. Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls), House Speaker                                                 
785/296-2302                                                                 

Rep. Don Dahl (R-Hillsboro), House Speaker Pro-Temp    
620/947-5593

Rep. Ray Merrick (R-Stillwell), House Majority Leader                                            
785/296-7662   

Rep. Jene Vickrey (R-Louisburg), House Assistant Majority Leader
913/837-2585

Rep. Rob Olson (R-Olathe), House Majority Whip 
Vice-Chair, House Energy & Utilities 
913/254-9672

Rep. Dick Kelsey (R-Goddard), House Republican Caucus Chairman
316/794-8537 

Rep. Steve Brunk (R-Wichita), Chairman, House Commerce and Labor Committee                                                
316/744-2409 

Rep. Mike Kiegerl, (R-Olathe), Vice-Chair, House Commerce & Labor Committee 
913/764-3291

Rep. Carl Holmes (R- Liberal)  Chairman, House Energy and Nat’l Resources Committee                                           
620/624-7361  

Rep. Larry Powell (R-Garden City), Chairman, Ag & Nat’l Resources Budget
620/275-6789

Rep. John Faber (R-Garden City), Chairman, House Ag & Natural Resources Committee 
785/694-2619                                   

Rep. Forrest Knox (R-Altoona), Vice-Chair, House Ag & Natural Resources,
785/783-5564

Rep. Sharon Schwartz (R-Washington), Chairman, House Appropriations Committee                           
785/325-2568     

Rep. Lee Tafanelli (R-Ozawkie), Vice-Chair, House Appropriations Committee
785/945-6122

Rep. Kenny Wilk (R-Lansing), Chairman, House Taxation Committee  
913/727-2453                                            

Rep. Richard Carlson (R-St. Marys), Vice-Chair, House Taxation Committee
785/632-5322

Rep. Don Myers (R-Derby), Chairman, House Veterans, Military & Homeland Security Committee                                            
316/788-0014  

Rep. Mario Goico (R-Wichita), Vice-Chair, House Veterans, Military & Homeland Security Committee
316/721-3682

Rep. Gary Hayzlett (R-Lakin), Chairman, House Transportation Committee                                          
620/355-6297 

Rep. Virgil Peck (R-Tyro), Vice-Chair, House Transportation Committee
620/289-4633

Rep. Bob Bethell (R-Alden), Chairman, House Social Services Budget Committee            
620/534-3085

Rep. John Grange (R-El Dorado)Vice-Chair, House Ag & Nat’l Resources Budget Committee 
316/321-2087

Rep. Pat George (R-Dodge City)<Chairman, House Select Committee on State Employee Pay Plan     
620/227-2012  

Rep. Jim Morrison (R-Colby), Chairman, House Gov’t Efficiency & Technology Committee
785/462-8231

Rep. Mike O’Neal (R-Hutchinson), Chairman, House Judiciary Committee 
620/663-9181 

Rep. Clay Aurand (R-Courtland), Chairman, House Education Committee
785/361-4900

Rep. Arlen Siegfreid (R-Olathe), Chairman, House Federal & State Affairs Committee                                            
913/764-3643   

Rep. Joe McLeland (R-Wichita), Chairman, Joint Information Technology 
316/722-8804

Rep. Lana Gordon (R-Topeka), Chairman, House Economic Development & Tourism Committee                                          
785/273-1203 

Rep. Joe Humerickhouse (R-Osage City), Chairman, Joint State Building Construction Committee  
785/528-3289

Rep. Anthony Brown (R-Eudora), Vice-Chair, House Insurance & Financial                                       
785/542-2293 

Rep. Peggy Mast (R-Emporia),  Chairman, Joint Post Audit Committee, Services Committee  
Vice-Chair, House Health & Human Services
 620/343-2465

Rep. Ted Powers, (R-Mulvane), Vice-Chair, House Elections & Gov’t Organizations Committee        
316/777-4310

Rep. Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe), Vice-Chair, House Judiciary Committee
913/829-6404

Rep. Kasha Kelly (R-Arkansas City), Vice-Chair, House General Government Budget                                 
620/772-0513     

Rep. Clark Shultz (R-Lindsborg), Chairman, House Insurance & Financial Institutions Committee
785/227-3805      

Rep. Bill Light (R-Rolla), House Energy & Utilities Committee                                                      
620/593-4749  

Rep. Jeff Whitham (R-Garden City), House Judiciary Committee 
620/275-5417

Rep. Virginia Beamer (R-Oakley), House Appropriations Committee                                    
785/672-4230  

Rep. Deena Hoorst, Vice-Chair, House Education Committee
785/827-8540

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