To the editor:

Recent articles in the Journal-World regarding the coal-fired power proposed for Holcomb have referred to those who oppose the plant as “environmentalists.” While the Sierra Club and other environmental groups have done admirable work in illustrating the negative environmental impacts of the plant, in fact, the Holcomb plant is being (and should be) opposed for far broader reasons, one of which is clearly economic.

Environmentalists or not, all Kansans should be taking a hard look at what the proposed plant is going to cost and consider who will be on the hook to pay for Sunflower Electric Power Corp.’s lack of sound economic forecasting. In the last 12 months, the cost of building power plants of any type has risen 27 percent. Sunflower’s price estimates for the plant will be dwarfed by its actual costs. Consider then, the cost of the carbon penalties that will be passed on to consumers via the fuel surcharge.

Finally, although many of these costs are being covered by the coal industry, it is worth considering who is going to pay for Sunflower Electric Power Corp.’s own extensive efforts in lobbying, gifts to K-State and other forms of persuasion. It all adds up to a bill that no member of Sunflower electric cooperatives or any clear-thinking Kansan should be required to pay.

Sarah Hill-Nelson,

Lawrence