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By SARAH KESSINGER
Harris News Service
TOPEKA -- A group promoting wind energy released poll results today showing a strong majority of Kansans back the Sebelius administration's denial of a permit for two new coal-fired power plants near Holcomb.
Perhaps the most notable response was from the 1st congressional district, which includes all of western Kansas, where the organization's pollster registered 51 percent approved of the state's decision on the plants.
The poll's margin of error was 3.1 percent.
The survey, commissioned by the Salina-based Land Institute's Climate and Energy Project, found statewide backing at a two-to-one margin. It also showed strong support -- 75 percent -- for aggressive wind energy development in Kansas.
In a teleconference with reporters this morning, national pollster Alan Seacrest of Cooper and Seacrest Associates of Alexandria, Va., explained the phone survey of about 1,000 likely voters was random and showed ample support both among Kansas Republicans and Democrats for the power plant decision and wind energy.
The two plants in Finney County are a proposal of Sunflower Electric in Hays and other utility investors from Colorado and Texas who seek to build the $3.6 billion complex near Sunflower's existing generator.
Part of the electricity would serve member electric cooperatives in western and central Kansas while most would be exported to other states.
Sebelius' Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby denied the permit in October, citing the 11 million tons of carbon dioxide the plants would emit each year.
Legislative leaders who are from southwest Kansas say the secretary acted with no basis in law and they hope to reverse the decision in the next legislative session. Sunflower also has sued the state for a reversal.
Sunflower spokesman Steve Miller said today he couldn't comment on the poll results without seeing the full survey and context of questions.
Nancy Jackson, executive director of the Climate and Energy Project, said the organization sought a poll to give them perspective on where Kansans stand and to guide the group's long-term work.
"I feel very comfortable with the balance," Jackson said of the poll's questioning. "We tried to assure we were in no way leading."
The project's mission, she said, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. A prime source of the gas known as carbon dioxide are electric plants that burn coal.
Jackson said they hope to educate Kansans on ways to reduce emissions through energy efficiency and wind power and plan to provide the poll results to legislators, who begin their annual session in January.
The poll included questions on climate change, but those results were not released to the public at this time.
Jackson, however, said they reflected uncertainty among voters.
"Not many have very firm convictions on climate change," she said. " ... It looks to us like a majority of Kansans are not sure what they think."
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