To the editor:

I would like to give some facts concerning Sunflower’s Holcomb expansion project that have not yet been presented in this paper. Sunflower currently has 100 megawatts of wind as part of their energy portfolio, with another 24 megawatts contracted from the second phase of the Smoky Hills Wind project north of Ellsworth (which is scheduled to come on line late this year). When it comes on line they will have 10 percent of their generation capacity supplied by wind, which meets Gov. Sebelius’ 10 percent by 2010 initiative. Sunflower has the largest percentage of wind generation in their energy portfolio of any utility in Kansas.

Sunflower is a nonprofit corporation because it is a cooperative. All profits are used to keep rates as low as possible for its members. Sunflower Electric, along with Midwest Energy, (another Kansas cooperative and partner in the project) has nearly 90,000 members in 42 central and western Kansas counties. The other states joining with Sunflower in the Holcomb expansion is an environmental benefit. Three locations would mean three smaller plants impacting air, etc.; with one large plant, they are building the most efficient plant in the state and keeping the lowest rates.

Sunflower Electric has taken great care to ensure that Holcomb Station, already the cleanest coal-based power plant in the state, will incorporate state-of-the-art green technologies. I urge you to read their environmental solutions at www.holcombstation.coop and discover their leadership in this technology.

Cynthia Williamson,

Baldwin City