Philadelphia (Platts)--4Feb2008

Sunflower Electric Power of Hays, Kansas, said Saturday that it and
Prairie Fire Bioenergy have agreed to evaluate the potential for burning a
biomass-based solid fuel with coal at Sunflower's 360-MW coal-fired plant near
Holcomb, Kansas.

The biofuel under development by Healy, Kansas-based Prairie Fire is
comprised of a mix of baled hay, seed hulls, crop stubble, and other
agricultural products.

After a preliminary evaluation is completed, a sample of biomass from
Prairie Fire will be fired in a small-scale test facility, Sunflower said.
"During this step, a chemical analysis of the biomass will be completed to
determine how well it would burn when combined with other fuels in a larger
boiler."

Sunflower, an electric cooperative group, has been seeking to revive its
plan to build two 700-MW coal-fired plants alongside its existing Holcomb coal
plant. That plan was set back in October when Kansas' Secretary of Health and
Environment denied an air permit over concern about the project's emission of
carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Four days of hearings on bills that could give the planned coal project
new life begin today in the Kansas Legislature.