Environment

Kansas condo board says it’s being forced to pay twice for gas used during 2021 winter storm

BY: - September 19, 2023

For an Overland Park condo association, the next natural gas bill after a historic cold snap more than two years ago was stunning. Pinebrooke Condominium Subdivision Association, in Overland Park, typically paid about $4,500 for its members’ monthly bills. But its February 2021 bill came to more than $280,000. It settled and paid 75% of […]

Extreme drought rendered a boat dock and ramp useless at Quivira Scout Ranch outside of Sedan

‘It’s an emergency.’ Midwest towns scramble as drought threatens drinking water.

BY: - September 17, 2023

SEDAN — James Rainbolt typically can tackle most problems at his rural water plant with some extra time or money. But he can’t fix this. “I just can’t make it rain,” he said. Like others across southeast Kansas, Rainbolt remains helpless as he watches a persistent drought dry up the local water supply. He runs […]

Udall after tornado destriction

Kansas Historical Society hosts author of new book detailing deadly Udall tornado

BY: - September 15, 2023

Author Jim Minick said he wanted to honor survivors’ true stories of the deadliest tornado in Kansas history by making his new book nonfiction. Minick, a Virginia-based writer and university professor, talked about his book, “Without Warning: The Udall Kansas Tornado,” and the inspiration behind it during a webinar hosted by the Kansas Historical Society […]

Gov. Laura Kelly nominated former state Rep. Annie Kuether, a Topeka Democrat, to a vacancy on the Kansas Corporation Commission. Kuether spent 25 years in the Legislature and served on the House's energy committee. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Senate committee confirms former Democratic legislator to utility regulatory board

BY: - September 13, 2023

Former Kansas state Rep. Annie Kuether was confirmed as the newest member of the Kansas Corporation Commission Wednesday with a near-unanimous vote.  Kuether, who served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1997 to 2022, will be seated immediately. She replaces outgoing commission Chair Susan Duffy. Gov. Laura Kelly announced she had appointed Kuether, a […]

Lawsuits take aim at BP for ‘unconscionable’ prices during 2021 cold snap in Kansas

BY: - September 13, 2023

BP Energy and other suppliers took advantage of a historic cold snap two years ago to sell natural gas at hundreds of times its normal price, two class action lawsuits filed in Kansas allege. The lawsuits, which name a combined eight companies in the natural gas supply chain, allege defendants violated the Kansas Consumer Protection […]

Climate change activists stand outside Lawrence City Hall, asking cars to honk in support of closing the coal-fired power plant during a Sept. 13, 2023, rally.

Kansans rally to pressure Evergy into keeping green energy promises

BY: - September 13, 2023

LAWRENCE — Closing the city’s coal-based power plant will be the first step toward holding the state’s largest utility company accountable for keeping green energy goals, climate change activists said at a Tuesday demonstration. The Sierra Club partnered with local organizations for the rally outside City Hall to show city officials how much local support […]

An oil refinery

Report faults EPA for not enforcing limits on toxic benzene emissions at oil refineries

BY: - September 10, 2023

The federal Environmental Protection Agency must do a better job ensuring that oil refineries that exceed emissions limits for benzene, a toxic, carcinogenic pollutant, cut those concentrations, the agency’s inspector general found. “Thirteen of the 18 refineries we reviewed had benzene concentrations above the action level in 20 or more weeks after the initial exceedance,” […]

A thermometer measures hot temperatures

August heat wave set records in parts of Kansas

BY: - September 8, 2023

Intolerable heat and humidity that hovered over Kansas last month set daily maximum temperature records across the state and rivaled all-time highs. The heat that drove readings into the 110s and heat indices even higher served as a preview of what could become even more severe and frequent weather events as the effects of climate […]

Gov. Laura Kelly nominated former state Rep. Annie Kuether, a Topeka Democrat, to a vacancy on the Kansas Corporation Commission. Kuether spent 25 years in the Legislature and served on the House's energy committee. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Former Democratic member of Kansas House appointed to Kansas Corporation Commission

BY: - September 8, 2023

Gov. Laura Kelly nominates a former Democratic colleague in Kansas Legislature to one of three seats on the Kansas Corporation Commission.

U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, both Kansas Republicans, want the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reconsider its rejection of a plan to relieve the burden on Kansas consumers for cost of transmission facilities moving wind-generated electricity to other states in the Southwest Power Pool. (Jill Hummels for the Kansas Reflector)

Moran, Marshall seek reversal of electricity transmission ruling viewed as harmful to Kansas

BY: - September 7, 2023

U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran irritated by federal regulators' rejection of plan to help Kansans burdened by electricity transmission costs.

Long-awaited Evergy energy efficiency programs approved by Kansas regulators

BY: - September 1, 2023

Kansas regulators approved a robust set of energy efficiency programs for Evergy customers after concerns the deal might fall apart. The 2-1 vote by the Kansas Corporation Commission on Friday brings programs, such as rebates and discounts on efficient HVAC systems and free thermostats, to Evergy’s Kansas customers. Missouri regulators have allowed energy efficiency programs […]

A Lesser Golden Plover sits in a section of wetland

New federal water pollution rule draws mixed reaction

BY: - August 30, 2023

A federal rule limiting agencies’ power to regulate water pollution will severely restrict protections for waters and wetlands throughout the country, but could also be subject to challenges from conservative groups that maintain the new rule exerts more federal jurisdiction than the U.S. Supreme Court intended in a May decision. With the rule published Tuesday to redefine […]