Hays ? Sunflower Electric Power Corp. has named a Kansas native as its new president and CEO.

The Hays Daily News reports that the company’s board on Thursday named Valley Falls native Stuart Lowry to the job, effective Aug. 15.

The 51-year-old Lowry will replace Earl Watkins, who led the company while it sought to obtain the necessary permits to build a new coal-fired power plant near Holcomb.

Lowry, an attorney, has been executive vice president and general counsel of Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. since 2004. KEC is a central association for 32 electric cooperatives in the state.