Residents raise concerns over proposed Evergy natural gas power plant

BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) -- Residents are concerned as Evergy seeks approval from Missouri and Kansas to build a natural gas-fired electric generating facility in Buchanan County.

The site would be known as the Buchanan Bluffs Energy Center Unit 2, which is proposed to be located at SE State Route E, South of Highway 169, just west of Gower, Missouri.

The site, which is also expected to be built by 2032, will include a 710-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle gas turbine electric generating plant. There will be two units on site.

One unit will generate power for Missouri, while the other unit will generate power for Kansas.

Residents in the area have been filing complaints with the Missouri Public Service Commission, as they have expressed concerns about not wanting the power plant in the area.

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, power plants and industrial facilities fueled by natural gas contribute to several types of air pollution, which can cause health issues and damage to the environment.

In a phone call with Evergy, the company said building the units at the plant is part of its initiative to better serve customers in Kansas and Missouri.

Evergy also said it would issue a news release providing more details about its plan for the plant. KQ2 will update the article once more information about the plans becomes available.

The Missouri Public Service Commission set an intervention deadline for Sept. 17.

KQ2 will update this article.