“For economic development, we need to reduce our electrical rates significantly by approximately 20 percent. It could attract manufacturing,” Kiowa, Kansas City Administrator Sam Demel said. That's why the city is interested in obtaining matching grant money to build a one mega-watt solar plant.

At a special meeting, Kiowa's City Council voted to have Demel apply for a BASE grant. Earlier, Kansas Gov. Kelly announced the launch of the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) program administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce. BASE is a new grant opportunity to help support infrastructure deve...