The federal government filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing Westar Energy, one of the Kansas City area's largest utilities, of violating the Clean Air Act for more than a decade.
The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice allege that since 1994 Westar has made major modifications to three generators at the Jeffrey Energy Center north of Topeka, Kan., but failed to install modern pollution control equipment.
Westar's actions resulted in the release of "massive amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter" that contributed to smog and acid rain, the EPA's lawsuit alleged.
The utility is facing penalties ranging from $24,000 to $32,500 a day from 1994 until the utility stops polluting.
Westar officials said Wednesday the utility was fixing the problem.
Read the full story at KansasCity.com