Powering the Plains
Sunflower maintains a well-balanced, diversified portfolio of generation resources that includes owned facilities and capacity, in addition to electricity provided through purchase power agreements (PPA). These resources reflect a mix of technologies and fuel types. The diversity in generation mix helps reduce exposure to changing market conditions and helps keep rates competitive.
We own and operate one coal, one solar, and nine natural gas facilities with a nameplate capacity of 1,095 megawatts (MW). Sunflower also purchases wind, solar, and hydroelectric power totaling another 200.3 MW. We have multiple sources of generation by design, and our all-of-the-above energy strategy aims to provide responsible, affordable, and reliable wholesale power to our member utilities.
On-demand resources like dispatchable plants fueled by natural gas are critical for shoring-up capacity during times of high energy use, low renewable output, or extreme weather conditions. As an extremely reliable and efficient resource, Sunflower's coal-fired power plant at Holcomb is the workhorse of the fleet. Solar energy provides generation during the daytime when our cooperative’s systems peak. It also works well with our generation profile as solar oftentimes generates the most power when wind is generating the least, and vice versa. Purchasing power generated by other sources, such as hydro, wind, and solar helps ensure access to renewable energy sources while enhancing fuel diversity and cost management.
Additionally, the new 150-MW Boot Hill Solar facility, which is currently under construction near Dodge City, is projected to begin operations in early 2026. The site will feature nearly 300,000 solar panels on a single axis tracking system. It is expected to generate 400,000 megawatt-hours annually, which is enough to power more than 38,000 Kansas homes. Alluvial Power, the project’s developer will own and operate the solar facility, but Sunflower and our member utilities will receive 100% of the output from the project.
Natural Gas | 726 MW
Power plants fueled by natural gas offer flexible, quick-start generation that supports reliability during periods of high demand or when renewable sources are intermittent. As part of a balanced energy mix, it plays a key role in maintaining grid stability.
Gas turbines can ramp up and down quickly as load demands fluctuate, making them valuable in a changing energy landscape. This flexibility is especially useful as more renewable generation is added into the system. As wind generation goes up and down, natural gas generation can help maintain reliability.
Garden City S2, Cimarron River 1 (CR1), Great Bend 3 (GB3), and Fort Dodge 4 (FD4) are natural gas-fired boiler and steam turbine facilities. S2 has a nameplate rating of 98 megawatts and was built in 1973; CR1, 50 megawatts built in 1963; GB3, 82 megawatts built in 1963; and FD4, 149 megawatts built in 1968.
Garden City S4 and S5 and Clifton 1 (CL1) units are simple-cycle, gas-fired turbine generators. S4 and S5 each have a nameplate rating of 71 megawatts and were built in 1976 and 1979, respectively; CL1, 85 megawatts built in 1974. Rubart Station (RTS) is powered by 12 natural gas-fired, lean-burn, spark-ignited G20CM34 Caterpillar reciprocating engines. The units have the ability to go from a shutdown condition to full power in less than ten minutes, and the reciprocating engine configuration offers a number of other unique capabilities. RTS has a nameplate rating of 120 megawatts and came online in 2014.
Coal | 349 MW
Coal provides dependable, around-the-clock baseload power and supports reliability in all weather conditions. Its ability to generate large amounts of electricity over long periods contributes to energy security. Coal remains an important foundation in a diverse generation portfolio.
Holcomb Station is a coal-fired generating facility owned and operated by Sunflower. The plant, which has a nameplate capacity of 349 megawatts, began commercial operation in 1983. As a baseload resource, Holcomb Station provides reliable, around-the-clock power to Sunflower’s members and plays a critical role in maintaining system stability. The facility incorporates advanced emissions control technologies to reduce environmental impact while continuing to serve as a cornerstone of Sunflower’s diverse energy portfolio.
Solar | 40 MW
Solar energy is a clean, renewable resource harnessing the power of the sun to generate electricity with zero emissions. It produces energy during peak demand hours and helps offset fossil fuel use. As part of a varied energy mix, solar adds sustainability and long-term value.
Sunflower Electric Solar @ Russell: The facility began commercial operation in Spring 2025. Located on 143 acres three miles east of Russell, Kan., the $36 million project was designed and constructed by DEPCOM Power. The facility features 44,408 solar panels equipped with single axis tracking technology designed to rotate throughout the day and continually face the sun for maximum efficiency and production. It generates nearly 50,000 megawatt hours annually, which accounts for about 1% of Sunflower’s total energy needs. Sunflower also has a 20-MW PPA with Johnson Corner Solar facility in southwest Kansas.
Johnson Corner Solar: Commercial operation began in April 2020 for the facility located in southwest Kansas. With a nameplate capacity of 20 MW, it was the largest solar facility in the state at the time of completion. The project spans approximately 200 acres and consists of more than 75,000 solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers that follow the sun throughout the day to maximize energy production. Sunflower has a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the full 20 MW output of the facility.
Wind | 178 MW
Through purchased power agreements (PPA), Sunflower integrates renewable energy from wind resources into its generation resource portfolio. These agreements help us enhance fuel diversity, manage costs, and support system flexibility.
Smoky Hills Wind Farm: Located in central Kansas, Smoky Hills began operation in 2008 and has a nameplate capacity of 246.3 MW. It consists of 155 Vestas turbines; each rated at 1.8 MW and mounted on 80-meter (262-foot) towers with blades approximately 130 feet long—longer than the wing of a Boeing 747. Sunflower has a PPA for 74 MW of power from the facility, contributing to a diverse and renewable energy mix.
Shooting Star Wind Farm: In September 2011, a PPA was signed for the entire 104 MW of wind energy and capacity from Infinity Wind Power’s Shooting Star Wind Farm, located in south central Kansas. It consists of 65 GE XLE 1.6 MW turbines and covers approximately 11,000 acres of farmland, which became fully operational in September 2012
Hydro | 2 MW
Sunflower receives hydroelectric power through an allocation from the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a federal agency that markets and delivers renewable hydroelectric energy from multi-use water projects across the western United States.
The WAPA allocation is part of a long-term contract providing reliable, low-cost power generated primarily from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation dams. The PPA for WAPA hydro is a valuable renewable resource in Sunflower’s power supply portfolio.