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Comment: The first reference is another wiki site, and not WP:RS. If you can use the references that site uses here, (provided they're WP:RS), and cut-out the other wiki, it would be much better. SnowyRiver28 (talk) 00:58, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
| Lawrence Energy Center | |
|---|---|
 View from the south of the Lawrence Energy Center, November 2023. | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Lawrence, Kansas |
| Coordinates | 39°00′25″N 95°16′12″W / 39.00694°N 95.27000°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 1938 |
| Owner | KPL 1938- 1992, Westar 1992-2018, Evergy 2018-Now |
| Operator | Evergy Kansas Central. |
| Employees | 55 |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | Subbituminous coal |
| Chimneys | 3 |
| Cooling source | Forced Draft Cooling Towers |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 517 MW |
The Lawrence Energy Center (LEC) is a coal-fired power station in Lawrence, Kansas. The facility is operated by Evergy.
Evergy plans to phase out coal usage at LEC, and in general, by 2028. This will include the removal of Unit 4 and a likely conversion to natural gas for Unit 5.[1]
History
editUnit 1-3
editThe Lawrence Energy Center was commissioned in 1938. The plant was designed to meet demand for the area's power. In the past, the only generator in Lawrence was at the Bowersock Dam, which started to produce power in the 1880s. Later on, in 1952, Kansas Power and Light (KPL) opened the much smaller Unit 2, at only 38 MW, then only 3 years later in 1955, Unit 3, at 49 MW.[2][3]
Units 4 and 5
editIn 1960, KPL opened Unit 4, at 114 MW. It was not until 1971 that the largest and last unit of the plant, Unit 5, was opened with a much larger 403 MW capacity. At this point in time, Kansas Power and Light were generating over 600 MW of power, making them the largest coal plant in Kansas; however, this would not stand for long, as La Cygne and Jeffrey Energy Center would open soon after, bringing LEC to third.[3]
Ownership changes
editWestar was in operation until 2018, when Great Plains Energy, parent to Kansas City Power & Light, merged with it to create Evergy.[citation needed]
Removal of Units 1-3
editWestar decided to start shutting down the first 3 units in the 90s due to them being over 40 years of age, and being inefficient. The exact date Unit 1 shut down is not known. Unit 2 followed in 2000, and then Unit 3 in 2015.[4]
Evergy did plan to shut down Units 4 and 5 in 2023; however, this was moved to 2028. Evergy never publicly stated why.[5][6]
Operations
editThe facility
editUnits 4 and 5 are still operational and produce over 500 MW of electricity for Lawrence and the nearby area. There are an estimated 55 employees at the plant.[5] The facility uses a row of Forced Draft Cooling Towers to the west of the plant, and the nearby Kansas River for cooling.[7] The plant holds a large amount of coal on-site in a coal pile to the east.[4] The coal is hauled in by rail, as the plant is connected to the BNSF Railway.[8]
Public view
editIncidents
editFatal explosion
editDue to many safety violations, three workers died in an electrical explosion in November 1997. This happened after safety guards had been removed from a high-voltage circuit breaker. OSHA stated that the explosion was most likely caused by one of the safety guards touching a conductor. This caused a 26-foot fireball, killing one of the employees instantly. Later, the other two employees died at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City due to injuries. The plant was fined $455,000 following the incident.[11]
Fires
editTurbine explosion
editRelating to the 2021 fire, there was an explosion with one of the turbines. It was damaged beyond repair; however, nothing else was affected. This was not fatal.[15]
Environmental Impact
editThe LEC has commonly been criticized for environmental impacts, not only to the air but also to the groundwater. Over 10 monitoring wells in the area have picked up chemicals, such as boron, Chloride,[clarification needed] lithium, radium, and Sulfate.[clarification needed][16] The plant has also caused harm to wildlife in the Kansas River.[17][7]
See also
editExternal links
editReference List
edit- ↑ https://www.dev1.evergy.com/-/media/files/ccr/evergy/lawrence-energy-center/elg-items/annual-reports/lawrence-energy-center---kwpc-annual-progress-report-2024.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "Dozens rally outside Lawrence City Hall to urge Evergy to shut down Lawrence's coal-fired power plant". LJWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- 1 2 "EJmap". ejmap.org. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- 1 2 "Westar's Lawrence Energy Center wins for not blinking on safety". POWER Magazine. 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- 1 2 "Evergy to close coal-fired power plant just outside of Lawrence". LJWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Evergy updates long-term plan for meeting customer energy needs". Evergy. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- 1 2 "Impact of coal fired power plants on fisheries - Problems | Climate Connection". climateconnection.org.in. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ Chilson, Morgan (2025-07-21). "Evergy seeks $55 million in damages for BNSF's failure to meet coal deliveries in Kansas, Missouri • Kansas Reflector". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Lawrence rally calls for Evergy to close coal-fired plant". The Lawrence Times. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Evergy, Close the Lawrence Power Plant". Sierra Club. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Company fined $455,000 after deadly explosion". Clinician.com. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Operation 100 News blog | Fire reported at Lawrence Energy Center". LJWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Crews extinguish fire at Lawrence Energy Center". LJWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Overnight fire at Evergy's Lawrence-area energy plant was caused by turbine malfunction". LJWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Did you hear that boom? Explosion at Lawrence power plant was from turbine malfunction". The Lawrence Times. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "EIP Ashtracker". ashtracker.org. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Coal-Fired Plants". kansasriver.org. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
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