KCC schedules public hearing and comment period on Evergy’s
request to recover costs for new gas plants and solar facility

TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has scheduled a virtual public hearing beginning at 6 p.m. on March 5th to provide Evergy Kansas customers across the state with information about three proposed new generation investments (two combined cycle gas-fired generating turbine plants and one solar facility). One gas plant would be located near Evergy’s Viola Substation in Sumner County and the second near Hutchinson in Reno County. The Kansas Sky solar facility would be located in Douglas County. The Commission will also provide an opportunity for public comments during the hearing.

Evergy filed an application with the KCC requesting a predetermination of the prudency of the investments and whether the company would be entitled to recover the costs of the investments and under what terms. Evergy has asked to recover the cost of construction work in progress (CWIP) and in a future rate proceeding will ask for recovery of the investments after they are in service, which is expected at the end of 2026 for the solar facility and 2029 and 2030 for the gas plants.

To participate in the virtual hearing via Zoom and make a public comment, advance registration is required by noon on March 4. For persons wishing to watch, but not comment during the public hearing, a live video stream will be available on the KCC YouTube channel. The hearing will also be recorded for later viewing.

In addition to the hearing, the Commission will accept written comments through 5 p.m. on April 7. Comments may be submitted online, by mail or by calling the KCC at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.

To register for the virtual hearing, make a public comment online or find additional information on the application, go to the Commission’s website (www.kcc.ks.gov) and click on the “Your Opinion Matters” tab.

The Commission will issue an order on the application on or before July 7, 2025.

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Lt. Governor Toland Announces More Than $4 Million Available in Community Service
Tax Credit Program

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $4.13 million in tax credits will be made available under the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP).

“Revitalizing our communities and state requires targeted investments that make people want to live and work in Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “CSP supports communities by substantially reducing the cost for donors to make contributions to charitable organizations that help fund important local projects.”

The Community Service Tax Credit Program provides an opportunity for private, non-profit organizations and public healthcare entities to improve their ability to undertake major capital campaigns involving community service, non-governmental crime prevention, youth apprenticeship and technical training, and healthcare services.

Under the program, the state authorizes nonprofit organizations to offer tax credits to donors that make contributions towards approved projects. Organizations are chosen through a competitive selection process in which applications are thoroughly analyzed to determine award sizes and final awardees.

Proposed projects must be unique or one-time in nature while creating lasting value for charitable organizations. Projects could include a capital campaign, major equipment purchase, major renovation, capacity building and more.

Applications will be open March 1 through April 30. Those applying may request up to $200,000 in tax credits. Applicants in rural communities of less than 15,000 population are eligible for a 70% credit. Those applicants not located in rural areas are eligible for a 50% credit.

If your organization is interested in applying for CSP, the Department of Commerce will host an introductory webinar at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 27. For more information and to register for the webinar, click here.

For questions regarding CSP, contact Quality Places Specialist Miranda Carpenter by email or call (785) 940-0626.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

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TOPEKA – In celebration of World Cancer Day, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has launched its new Cancer Data Dashboard, which is now available on the KDHE website. Released by the Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics (BEPHI) and the State Cancer Program, this comprehensive, interactive tool offers stakeholders, researchers, policymakers and the general public access to the most up-to-date cancer data for Kansas, providing an essential resource for improving cancer care, prevention and policymaking.

Launched on Oct. 22, 2024, the Kansas Cancer Data Dashboard integrates data from the Kansas Cancer Registry, Vital Statistics and the Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This tool enables users to access data on cancer incidence, mortality, survivorship, screening and cancer risk factors with a simple, interactive interface. Users can explore cancer data by sociodemographic factors such as age, sex, race, ethnicity and population density, and they can view data mapped across Kansas counties and regions.

”The new Cancer Data Dashboard is a valuable resource for cancer prevention and control efforts in Kansas,” Jana Farmer, Cancer Section Director at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said. ”By making this data accessible to a wide range of stakeholders, we can enhance decision-making and drive evidence-based strategies that improve cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship outcomes for Kansans.”

Key features of the Cancer Data Dashboard include:

• A snapshot of the top 10 cancer diagnoses and cancer deaths by sex and age group, including specific data for children under 20 and 15 years old, along with age-specific incidence and mortality rates for all cancers.
• Age-adjusted cancer incidence rates for 24 cancer types, segmented by sociodemographic factors, and includes data on both overall and late-stage cancer diagnoses, as well as the most recent 10 years of incidence data.
• Cancer death data for 24 cancer types, segmented by sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, race and ethnicity.
• Cancer screening prevalence rates for lung, colorectal, cervical, and female breast cancer based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines, along with data on cancer risk factors such as tobacco use, binge drinking, obesity, and physical inactivity, as well as information on family history collection and genetic counseling.

A unique feature of the Cancer Data Dashboard is its inclusion of data related to cancer survivorship, which is sourced from the Kansas BRFSS cancer survivorship modules. This section addresses key issues such as receiving survivorship care plans and treatment summaries, financial hardships caused by cancer and the management of cancer-related pain. Additionally, the dashboard allows users to compare cancer survivors with individuals without a cancer diagnosis on topics like healthcare access, health status, cancer risk factors and cancer screening rates. Serving as a centralized, all-in-one platform, the dashboard is a vital resource for Kansas’ cancer prevention and control stakeholders, public health researchers, and community advocates. By offering interactive maps and detailed, accessible data, it empowers users to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively where they are most needed.

The new dashboard is now available to the public and can be accessed here.

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