Kan. Utility Plans $380M In Pollution Upgrades

JOHN HANNA

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Westar Energy Inc. announced plans Wednesday to spend up to $380 million upgrading pollution control systems on its coal-fired power plant outside Lawrence.

The Topeka-based utility said the new equipment will reduce emissions of mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. It expects construction work to begin next year and to finish by 2013, creating about 350 jobs.

Spokeswoman Erin LaRow said the upgrades are in keeping with a climate change policy that Westar announced nearly two years ago, in which it promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, she said, the utility needs to keep up with federal environmental standards.

"Upgrades at the Lawrence Energy Center are just one more step in our effort to make all of our plants even cleaner while allowing us to continue to meet our customers' energy needs," said Doug Sterbenz, Westar's executive vice president and chief operating officer.

But the upgrades also will increase rates for at least some of Westar's 679,000 customers. The company said it plans to ask state regulators to approve a new surcharge to cover the costs of adding the new pollution controls.