A statewide poll released Thursday identified broad public support for the controversial rejection of a $3.5 billion coal plant expansion at Holcomb and for aggressive development of wind farms in Kansas.

The survey for The Land Institute, a Salina environmental and agricultural organization, found a majority of Kansans in each of the four congressional districts applauded denial by state regulators of an air-quality permit sought by Sunflower Electric Power Corp.

"The poll suggests many Kansans support this decision," said Nancy Jackson, executive director of the Land Institute's climate and energy project.

She said survey results went against conventional wisdom that popular support existed for a 1,400-megawatt power plant addition.

Steve Miller, senior manager of external affairs at Sunflower Electric, said the poll commissioned for "publicity purposes" wouldn't deter advocates of expansion at Holcomb. The company filed a lawsuit to reverse the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's decision.

The company's plant is designed to be "one of the cleanest power generating stations in the country," Miller said.

KDHE based its October dismissal of Sunflower's application on a desire to avoid proliferation of carbon dioxide pollution by burning coal. Power plant emissions of CO2 is tied by many scientists to global warming.

Legislative leaders, including Senate President Steve Morris and House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, both southwest Kansas Republicans, denounced KDHE's refusal to issue a permit. An attempt to reverse the agency is expected in the 2008 session, which begins Jan. 14.

The work of politicians in the Statehouse will occur in wake of the Land Institute's telephone poll of 1,000 likely voters indicating 62 percent of Kansans approved of KDHE's action on Holcomb, while 31 percent opposed the move.

Support for KDHE was strongest in the 3rd District in the Kansas City area at 70 percent and was weakest in the 1st District of western Kansas at 51 percent.

In the 2nd District that includes Topeka, 62 percent agreed with KDHE and 28 percent disagreed with the agency. The numbers were similar in Wichita's 4th District: 62 percent agreed, 30 percent disagreed.

"The strength of agreement there is fairly significant," said Alan Secrest, of polling firm Cooper & Secrest Associates.

The Alexandria, Va., company's survey also revealed three of four Kansans favored aggressive pursuit of wind farm development. The state ranks third nationally in terms of wind potential.

The poll, with a margin of error of 3 percent, revealed 35 percent of respondents had a positive opinion of the Legislature.

Cooper & Secrest specializes in public opinion polls for Democratic candidates. The company has worked for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., and Attorney General Paul Morrison.

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