Wind energy and coal plants are two buzz phrases seeing plenty of play in Kansas newspapers lately. The perception seems to be wind and solar power are the cleaner alternative over coal, but coal, according BPU General Manager Rick Anderson, is what makes BPU's rates the lowest in Kansas.

"BPU has a contractual arrangement with Westar Energy to provide electricity from our turbine generators and in turn Westar provides us with our energy," Anderson said.

The arrangement has kept BPU's average rates to 3.8 cents per kWh, well below the average of 8.1 cents for nationally publicly owned utilities and 7.6 for Kansas publicly owned utilities.

The arrangement is for BPU to provide electricity from the turbine generators exclusively to Westar Energy which in turn provides BPU with all of its electricity. BPU sells to wholesale, industrial, commercial and residential customers. Westar Energy, which generates its baseload electricity from coal plants in Jeffrey, Lawrence and Tecumseh, can call on BPU to provide electricity at any time during the year but especially duringf peak capacity periods such as summer and winter months when consumers use electricity to heat and cool their homes.

BPU's generators operate on natural gas as a primary fuel and diesel fuel as a backup.

BPU also provides power to the cities of Moundridge, which has below average electric rates - 5.9 cents per kWh, and Galva.

Anderson attended a meeting in Topeka Thurday of the Kansas Energy Council Electricity Committee to develop specific committee objectives and work plan through May 2008.

"The lieutenant governor was there and he encouraged us to be candid in our remarks and not worry about offending the governor. That said, he really got an earful about the governor's decision to not allow the coal plant in Holcomb," Anderson said.

Many at the meeting felt that Governor Kathleen Sebelius' actions were done to capture national attention at the expense of residents in western Kansas, Anderson said.

"Will energy costs in western Kansas go up as a result of Kathleen's decision? Definitely - provided the plant doesn't get built," Anderson said.

The Holcomb plant decision is expected to have repercussions in this year's legislative session.

House of Representatives Speaker Melvin Neufeld touched on the need for a sound energy policy in his 2008 Republican Legislative Vision speech.

"Alternative energies like wind and solar power can play an important role in our state's energy portfolio, but the simple fact is wind turbines and sunshine alone cannot meet our growing demand for electricity," Neufeld said.