Coal Industry Accused of Bribery

The Kansas power company Sunflower Electric is offering Kansas State University $2.5 million for energy research for 10 years to get support for two new coal-fired plants in Holcomb, KS. The Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment already ruled against air permits for the plants back in October. Some are saying Sunflower’s offer to the university is tantamount to bribery. ThinkProgress writes:

The coal industry has sponsored nearly all of CNN’s presidential debates, and has launched a website and TV ads using children to spout its propaganda.

Now Big Coal is trying bribery. Sunflower Electric, a leading Kansas power company, has offered millions to Kansas State University for energy research — that is, if the legislature approves its bid for new coal plants first. Speaker Melvin Neufeld (R) emphasized the large cash gift yesterday as he urged his colleagues to approve the plants…State Rep. Paul Davis (D) said such a bribery scheme was “in poor taste.”