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Posted on Tue, Feb. 27, 2007 The Kansas City Star

Westar Looking for Renewable-Energy Projects

Westar Energy is asking for proposals to develop up to 500 megawatts of electricity from renewable resources.

Topeka-based Westar, Kansas' largest electric utility, said it would like some of that electricity to be online by the end of 2008 and the rest by the end of 2010. It wants proposals by April 2.

"Westar Energy, like many utilities, is entering a time when new generation is needed," Jim Haines, Westar Energy's chief executive officer, said in a company release. "It is important that we evaluate renewable resources in addition to traditional-fueled generation."

Westar said it would like to own the generating plant or plants after they are developed and built but would be open to other options.

Any wind power proposals should meet state guidelines, Westar said, which address consideration for any nearby residents and effects on natural habitat and resources in and near wind power sites.

Utilities' wanting to add more renewable sources, from wind to solar to plant wastes, has been in the news lately. TXU, the big Texas power company, on Monday said it would be sold to big buyout groups. Part of the deal, which was endorsed by some environmental groups, calls for the new owners to cancel several coal-burning plants TXU was planning. And last week the governor of Minnesota signed a law to get that state's utilities to provide 20 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Westar made a similar request for renewable-energy projects in 2004 and got 17 proposals from 13 companies. Most of the proposed projects were wind farms. Based on those proposals the technology available at the time, the company said, customers were better served by Westar’s continuing to use its existing generation facilities

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