Evergy hosts open house on proposed Buchanan Bluffs Energy Center

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Evergy hosted a community open house Monday evening to discuss its proposed Buchanan Bluffs Energy Center. 

The open house was held at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds, where residents had the opportunity to meet with Evergy project developers, ask questions and share their feedback on the proposed project.

Evergy said community input will play an important role in shaping the potential development.

Buchanan Bluffs Energy Center is proposed as two 710-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas units, providing up to 1,420 megawatts of generation capacity.

The property is about 170 acres near Frazier, Missouri, with the energy center itself expected to occupy roughly 50 acres.

Evergy spokesperson Gina Penzig said the proposed plant is needed because the company has relied on the regional energy market to help serve customers, but conditions in the market have changed in recent years, both regionally and nationally.

"As we look at those projections, and we look at going forward, how to meet customers' needs and keep prices stable, owning more power plants to serve customers directly makes more financial sense than continuing to rely on the market," she said.

The site will have two units, with one generating electricity for Missouri customers and the other serving customers in Kansas.

"It also provides geographic diversity. If there's more power demand in one area, or transmission availability, then we can adjust as needed using the power plants," Penzig said. "If one is down for maintenance, another is available."

Evergy said it plans to work with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on this project.

"We'll submit air permits and other environmental permits. The plans are high regulated and we'll have a lot of stringent environmental regulations that we would work with in," Penzig said.

Daniel and Kristyl Mayer live about a mile from the proposed natural gas plant.

Kristyl Mayer said she is concerned about the potential environmental impacts and the plant's proximity to a preschool in the area.

"Where are they going to get the massive water supply that they need? Is that going to dry up our community's wells?" she said. "The pollution, there's a school right next to us, a preschool, a home school; what will it do to that?"

Her husband is concerned about the potential for higher utility bills.

"They don't know where they're getting the water from," Mayer said. "Does that mean that the locals are going to have to pay more because of the increase of water usage from the plant?"

Mayer also said Evergy has not made enough of an effort to communicate with residents in the area until now.

"They rejected our ability to get involved; they don't want us involved, and when we ask for specific numbers and values, they can't give you anything. They said, 'Well, we expected, or we hope or our thoughts are...' but they don't have any real information," she said.

The Missouri Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at Missouri Western State University. 

Customers will have the opportunity to ask questions and testify about Evergy’s application.