Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has received national attention for her tough stand against the overzealous expansion of a coal-fired power plant in western Kansas.

The governor should not back down from that position when the Legislature returns to finish this year’s session.

Sebelius twice has vetoed bills aimed at letting Sunflower Electric enlarge its plant near Holcomb. So far lawmakers have narrowly failed to override her vetoes.

Now Sunflower Electric and its backers in the Legislature have endorsed a plan to build two 600-megawatt additions instead of the two previously proposed 700-megawatt ones.

That modest reduction in size is hardly worth celebrating.

The governor should reject this idea. The new plan would mean only a minimal reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Sebelius has offered a promising compromise that lawmakers should accept: a 660-megawatt expansion, or a little more than half what Sunflower Electric is now seeking.

And the 660-megawatt figure is about triple the electricity that Sunflower Electric has said would be used by Kansas customers.

The governor sensibly realizes that coal still has a place in meeting the state’s future energy needs. But she has prodded Sunflower Electric to focus more on renewable energy.

The utility plan’s modest offers on renewable energy, however, do not provide sufficient reason for Sebelius to change her opposition to Sunflower Electric’s oversized expansion plans.

The governor has contended all along that she wants to protect Kansans from the harmful health effects and potentially staggering costs of a dramatically larger presence for coal-fired power in the state. Congress is debating federal regulation of carbon dioxide emissions, which could include new taxes.

Sebelius’ common-sense approach best protects Kansans.