A bill before a Kansas House committee would give the Kansas Corporation Commission the final word in developing state plans to limit carbon emissions. The EPA is in the process of implementing new requirements, but states have the option to provide their own plans for meeting EPA goals. Tom Gross, with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, says they face a deadline to submit a state plan to the EPA. He says this bill gives the KCC too much time to review proposals.
“If it stays in there the way it is, it will pretty much guarantee us we will have a federal plan imposed on the state just because of the time constraints,” says Gross.
Gross says they will work with the KCC when developing any rules. The KCC says it should have a large role in the process because the issue affects the cost and reliability of electricity in Kansas.