On a vote of 33-7, senators overwhelmingly approved the measure seen as the issue of this Legislative session. The 33 yes-vote is more than needed to override Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' expected veto of the measure.
The bill will now head to the House, which will most likely work its own version next week.
The bill was drafted after an October decision by Rod Bremby, secretary of the Kansas Health and Environment, to deny an air-quality permit for a 1,400 megawatt addition to a plant in Holcomb.
Sunflower Electric Power Corp. had sought the permit and would have joined other utility companies to construct the massive project. Much of the energy would go to out-of-state customers. Kansas would receive approximately 200 megawatts of the power.
Today, some senators praised the bill wholeheartedly, while others offered tempered approval.
"We want economic growth, inexpensive energy and yet a clean environment and better health for our children," said Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, who voted in favor of the bill. "Solutions require elected officials to recognize those competing goals, to be frank about them and the tradeoffs they require."
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