A Kansas energy provider paused plans to transition away from coal power and aims to raise its rates to meet the energy demands of a new, $4 billion electric vehicle battery manufacturing factory.
Before these moves drew criticism from environmental advocates and Kansas officials, the project was touted as a huge win for the state. Evergy said the plant creates "near-term challenges from a resource adequacy perspective" in its testimony to the KCC. The energy demand will require the utility company to build two new substations and upgrade three existing substations, according to The Kansas City Star.
"Given that the investment is still an estimate and given the magnitude of the estimated load additions, it is not evident to Staff that the addition of Panasonic is actually going to necessitate an increase in rates," commission official Andria Jackson wrote in a press release. Utility company Evergy is seeking to raise Kansans' electricity rates to offset the cost of expanding infrastructure to accommodate Panasonic.