Kansas Has Potential to Generate Power from Wind
Issues of siting and developing wind farms in various areas of Kansas have raised questions and controversies over the last few years. Governor Sebelius and the Kansas Energy Council have worked to gather information to help communities and counties make decisions when approched by developers. They also cosponsored, with the Rural Life Task Force, a trip to Minnesota to view community wind projects. A study of a renewable portfolio standard for Kansas also will help gather information about the potential for renewable energy generation from the ever-present Kansas wind.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius Names Wind and Prairie Task Force
To study some of the issues surrounding wind, a task force was formed and released its report in 2005. Here's what the governor said when she received their report:
"Members of the Wind and Prairie Task Force tackled a very complex issue over the past several months, weighing the options of our state's wind energy potential and preservation of unique ecosystems, such as the Flint Hills. The culmination of their efforts is a comprehensive report that will take time to review in its entirety. Based on my initial review of the findings, the Task Force has presented two different approaches with a common end result: implementation of a strategy that preserves the grasslands of Kansas, including those in the Flint Hills, while also developing our state's wind-energy potential.
"As Governor, I urge all parties concerned including landowners, wind developers, power purchasers, and the appropriate county authorities to use restraint until the recommendations can be considered and acted upon by the Energy Council and the Legislature. In the meantime, I urge all parties to follow the agreed upon recommendations in the report when considering proposals for wind energy development.
"I very much appreciate the Wind and Prairie Task Force members for giving their time to this endeavor over the past four months. They had multiple meetings, created additional working groups and held two public forums at their own expense. Their commitment to public service, preserving ecologically sensitive regions of our state, and promoting wind-energy should be commended."
Learn more about wind and other Kansas energy issues at http://www.kansasenergy.org/kec.htm