By SARAH KESSINGER

Harris News Service

TOPEKA -- The Kansas House plans to vote later today on a conference committee's bill to prevent a state regulator from nixing new coal-fired power plants that emit greenhouse gases.

"Today is not the end game, it is one more step toward the end game," said Earl Watkins, president and CEO of Sunflower Electric Power Corp. of Hays.

The electric utility and its Colorado and Texas partners need the bill to clear the way for construction of a $3.6 billion, 1,400 megawatt coal-fired power complex near Garden City.

Their plans were blocked last year by state Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby, who said the generators would emit too much carbon dioxide -- 11 million tons per year.

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, has said he expects to have a two-thirds majority of House members favoring the bill. Such a vote could indicate enough support exists to counter a likely veto by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius later in the session.

Opponents say it's unclear whether Neufeld has the votes and can maintain them between today and the expected override attempt.

"It'll be close. There's a lot of time left between now and then," said Sierra Club lobbyist Tom Thompson.

The governor says she won't sign a bill that strips a cabinet member's power to regulate emissions.

Backers of the bill said Tuesday morning there's plenty of work ahead to assure Sebelius does not prevail.

"We know we're not at the finish line," Watkins said as he stood in a Capitol hallway and directed lobbyists to meet with legislators.

The Senate, in an earlier vote on the issue, already has signaled it has enough bi-partisan, veto-proof support for the bill.

"Hallelujah," said the Senate's lead negotiator, Senate Utilities Chairman Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, after agreeing to the conference committee's final bill.

"I'm sure it'll be vetoed," he said. "But at least we're at the next step."

Before concluding Tuesday's House-Senate negotiations on the bill, the conference committee added one more aspect. It would allow utilities to set up energy efficiency programs and then charge ratepayers for them, although that would be subject to regulatory oversight by the Kansas Corporation Commission.

The bill now includes nearly all energy efficiency and renewable energy provisions considered by legislators this session. It includes requirements that utilities have a set amount of renewable energy available by set dates; it would allow for owners of solar power to sell their energy back to the grid at a better price than is available; and it would require new state buildings to meet certain energy efficiency standards.

Thompson said it's wrong to lump those issues in the bill in order to get carbon-emitting plants built.

"It's a shame they're holding hostage a lot of good concepts that should be decided on their own merit," he said.

House Democratic negotiator, Rep. Annie Kuether of Topeka, refused to sign off on the measure, saying she couldn't accept removal of Bremby's power to regulate greenhouse gas.

Kuether also said there wasn't enough mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions in the bill.