• Coal - Coal-fired plants generate the majority of our electricity. Part of our energy plan is focused on the stability of cleaner coal generation. One result is Iatan 2, a zero-liquiddischarge facility that is one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the United States. The La Cygne Generating Station has also undergone significant environmental improvements to meet federal and state regulations for air quality and emissions. Roughly 75% of our coal fleet has emission-reducing scrubbers.


• Natural Gas - Our natural gas peaker plants help us meet energy needs on the highest demand days.


• Nuclear - Evergy is a joint owner of the Wolf Creek Generating Station, a nuclear power plant in Burlington, Kan. Utility companies often rely on nuclear power as a cost-effective way to provide reliable energy for base load generation. 


• Wind - We were the first utility in the country to own and operate a commercial-scale wind facility in the state of Kansas with our 100.5 MW Spearville Wind Generation Facility, which is now 148.5 MW. We also purchase power from other wind energy providers. 


• Solar - Solar panels atop Paseo Academy have a capacity of 100 kilowatts while teaching local children about our energy future. The effort is part of our SmartGrid Demonstration Project. We’ve also partnered with the Kansas City Royals to maximize renewable energy resources at the ballpark by installing a 120-panel solar system on the outfield canopy roof—the largest in-stadium solar array in Major League Baseball. 


• Biogas - The 3 million tons of decomposing waste in St. Joseph, Mo.’s landfill continually produce methane, which our Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant converts into enough electricity to power up to 1,000 homes annually.

We operate some of the cleanest and most efficient coal-fired plants in the country. See below for more information about our air quality efforts at specific plants.

Iatan 2

• A super-critical steam boiler allows for maximum efficiency, using 10% less fuel and generating 10% lower emissions than typical coal-fired facilities.
• State-of-the-art air quality controls reduce overall emissions. The facility emits 1.3 million tons less carbon dioxide annually than the U.S. average for coal plants.
• A zero liquid discharge unit minimizes wastewater production through evaporation and reuse. 
• POWER Magazine named Iatan 2 as the 2011 Plant of the Year, citing the innovation, collaboration and expertise evident on the project.

La Cygne Generating Station

Evergy is joint owner of this 1,450 megawatt coal-fired plant, which is undergoing environmental improvements to meet federal and state regulations for air-quality and emissions. 

• When the project is complete, La Cygne will have the best available emission-reducing technology.
• The project includes the installation of two wet scrubbers and a selective catalytic reduction system.
• Once these improvements are complete, 72% of our coal fleet will have emission-reducing scrubbers installed.

Hawthorn Unit 5

Reflecting a focus on efficiency, the Hawthorn Unit 5 coal-fired generation station was rebuilt in just 22 months, over a year faster than the industry norm. The improvements increased capacity to 565 megawatts while reducing emissions.

• The project took advantage of best-available control technology to dramatically lower air emissions. 
• Air quality control equipment included an SCR system for NOx (nitrogen oxide) reduction, dry FGD for SO2 (sulfur dioxide) control and a pulse jet fabric filter for particulate control.

Jeffrey Energy Center

As the proud recipient of the 2014 Edison Award, the electric power industry's most prestigious honor, for engineering and constructing a full-scale wetland to treat wastewater at Jeffrey Energy Center, we rebuilt and upgraded the flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems on each of the plant's three units, resulting in a 97-percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions.

• Recognizing the need to improve the treatment of discharged wastewater from the FGD process, we sought a natural and cost-effective way to ensure the plant's wastewater met our high environmental standards.
• Created expected savings of $40 million over 15 years in capital and operational costs that will also benefit customers.

Lawrence Energy Center

Lawrence Energy Center (LEC) consists of two operational coal fired electric generating units located in Lawrence, Kansas adjacent to the Kansas River. Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) associated with burning coal include bottom ash, fly ash, and flue gas desulfurization materials (FGD). CCR, along with minor amounts of other miscellaneous waste, are currently placed in an on-site active combustion byproduct landfill located on LEC property. This combustion byproduct landfill is permitted under Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Bureau of Waste Management (BWM), Permit No. 847.

You can also view our Evergy 2021 IRP Overview.