Evergy begins construction on 710 MW high-efficiency natural gas plant

Published: 2026-05-13 08:07:57 ET EVRG

Published on 05/13/2026 at 08:07 am EDT

KANSAS CITY - Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVRG) today celebrated the start of construction on a new 710-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle natural gas plant in Sumner County, Kan.

The company also announced the plant, which is expected to begin operating in 2029, will be named Chisholm Trail Energy Center.

State lawmakers, Sumner County officials and Evergy leadership attended today's official groundbreaking. They emphasized the gas plant's job creation, tax dollars for both the county and state of Kansas, and how it will play an important role in energy reliability and affordability for the region.

'Chisholm Trail is a major infrastructure investment that will serve the energy needs of our growing region today and well into the future,' said David Campbell, Evergy chairman and chief executive officer. 'Today is an important milestone not only for Evergy, but also for Sumner County, for the state of Kansas, and for the customers and communities we are proud to serve. Today we celebrate the beginning of construction on the first new baseload power plant in our Kansas generation fleet in more than 40 years.'

The plant will be in northwest Sumner County and is expected to begin operating in 2029. In October 2024, Evergy announced plans to build two combined-cycle natural gas plants, one in Sumner County and another in Reno County that is expected to be in service in 2030.

Driven by growing demand among existing customers and new economic development, Evergy expects to add more than 4,000 MW of generation in the next seven years. Strategic timing of adding new plants alongside growing demand will help maintain electricity prices that are competitive in the region. From 2017 to today, Evergy's prices have increased about 5%, a rate well below 1% per year.

'The groundbreaking for Evergy's combined-cycle natural gas power plant in Sumner County ensures that Kansas will have the energy resources necessary to support our families and businesses,' Gov. Laura Kelly said. 'In addition to creating new, good-paying jobs for Kansans and spurring economic activity, this investment will balance sustainability with the demand for reliable, affordable power. Together, we're building the infrastructure needed to power our future.' The governor was not in attendance.

The power plant will provide baseload power generation, which is the steady, always-on supply of electricity to meet customers' day-to-day needs. It's also designed to adjust output based on the availability of energy from wind and solar energy resources. Natural gas is an abundant, economical fuel in Kansas. Chisholm Trail will use some of the most modern, efficient combined-cycle technology available today and will need less than 1% of the water required by traditional combustion plants.

'Breaking ground on Chisholm Trail Energy Center represents visible progress in a multi-year investment in new generation that includes both natural gas and renewable resources already under construction,' Campbell said. 'Evergy remains focused on delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy, meeting customers' needs today and ensuring Kansas is ready for the demands - and opportunities - of the future.'

The natural gas plant is a major investment that will bring benefits to Sumner County and the region. It is expected to: Serve customers for more than 40 years.

Support 500 jobs during construction and create 20-40 long-term highly skilled positions that pay more than $90,000 annually.

Provide more than $500 million in property tax revenues for Sumner County.

Allow for new business growth locally and regionally.

'This investment strengthens the backbone of our local economy, ensuring Sumner County can support growth, improve reliability, and welcome the next generation of businesses with confidence,' said Stacy Davis, executive director of Sumner County Economic Development Commission.

'As Kansas continues to grow, we must ensure our infrastructure keeps pace,' said Senate President Ty Masterson. 'This modern natural gas plant is a practical step toward maintaining a reliable energy system that can meet today's needs and tomorrow's energy demand.'

Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins added, 'Today's ceremony is about more than construction - it's about opportunity. This project brings good-paying jobs, supports local businesses, and demonstrates confidence in Kansas as a place to invest and grow.'

'This groundbreaking represents an important investment in reliable energy for Kansas. Projects like this strengthen our electric grid, support economic growth, and help ensure families and businesses can count on affordable, dependable power for years to come,' said Senate Utilities Chair Michael Fagg.

House Energy Committee Chair Leo Delperdang said, 'This facility is the result of strong partnerships between the state, local leaders, and the private sector. By working together, we're delivering infrastructure that benefits this community and contributes to Kansas' long-term success.'

The natural gas plant will be powered by Mitsubishi Power's state of the art gas turbine. 'This project is the first of a multi-project partnership built on a proven 'plan once, deploy many' philosophy' said Mark Bissonnette, Mitsubishi Power Americas chief operating officer. 'At its core, we are delivering our industry-leading M501JAC gas turbines, the most advanced in our portfolio, manufactured at our state-of-the-art facility in Savannah, Georgia. These highly flexible and efficient turbines will provide the backbone of Evergy's plant. Additionally, the equipment Mitsubishi Power is supplying to Evergy includes a Nooter Eriksen heat recovery steam generator engineered in the Midwest.'

'We are proud to work with Evergy in bringing safe and reliable energy to the customers they serve. We know how important it is to be able to support growth and local communities,' said Dan Rocole, Kiewit Power Constructors president. 'With deep roots in Kansas, we love being able to work on projects with Evergy in Kansas and Missouri to provide best in class, highly efficient and clean power to communities. We look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come.'

Chisholm Trail Energy Center is part of a multi-year period of new energy investment at Evergy. It strengthens a balanced portfolio that includes coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind and solar generation. Evergy remains focused on delivering reliable, affordable energy while preparing the region for the demands of tomorrow.

About Evergy

Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVRG), serves 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. Evergy's mission is to empower a better future. We are leading the way in delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy that creates the foundation for thriving and growing communities. Our focus is on delivering reliable power while keeping bills as low as possible. We value innovation and adaptability to give our customers better ways to manage their energy use, to create a safe and rewarding workplace for our employees and to add value for our investors. Headquartered in Kansas City, our employees live, work and volunteer in the communities we serve.