TOPEKA, Kan. – Westar Energy announced Tuesday, plans to continue its transition to a cleaner, more modern electricity supply. As part of the plan, the company will phase out old electrical generating equipment at three locations by year end, Hutchinson being one of them.
Officials say people are using less energy, so they no longer need these old, small generating units to meet peak electrical demand. Plus, the current price to add more renewable energy is a
reasonable alternative, so they’ll add more renewable energy, as needed.
Officials say while it’s time to retire this equipment, that will also mean the loss of about 40 jobs in Lawrence, Tecumseh and Hutchinson.
They say that the plants in these locations will continue to operate, they will do so producing less electricity with fewer employees. This will impact Hutchinson and the other two locations, which will lose good paying jobs and property tax revenues that benefit the communities effected.
While the total number of jobs at Westar will decline, the company expects to place employees affected by these changes in other open positions within the company.