New gusts of power for Kansas wind industry
Four years ago former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius repeatedly promoted the notion that her state had the potential to become the “Saudi Arabia of wind power.”
In 2012, that boast is getting closer to coming true.
And it’s doing so — surprise — with the welcome backing of Republican leaders such as Gov. Sam Brownback and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. Both have emerged as boosters of the wind industry even while many in the GOP wrongly decry its government subsidies.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, Kansas is on pace to lead the nation in the amount of renewable wind energy scheduled to come on line this year. The group estimates that almost 1,200 megawatts of new energy will be available from up to eight wind power projects opening in 2012.
By comparison, the proposed Sunflower Electric coal-fired plant expansion in western Kansas would supply just under 900 megawatts. And the Iatan coal-fired plants that supply electricity to much of the Kansas City area generate around 1,500 megawatts.
Building power plants is one thing; getting power from them to points east in Kansas and Missouri is another. A big step forward occurred late last year when the Kansas Corporation Commission approved Clean Line Energy Partners to do business in the state. The company hopes to build a $2 billion, 700-mile transmission line from western Kansas to Indiana.
As the wind industry in Kansas gets to be good business that means jobs are being created. And that helps explain why Brownback and Moran are speaking up to expand it in Kansas and to retain the wind energy production tax credit in Congress.
Moran properly notes that a renewed tax credit would help build confidence in more construction of this alternative form of clean energy.
Brownback praises the highly skilled and permanent jobs that are needed to build and operate wind energy projects. The governor is proud that “Kansas has world-class wind energy.”
While that might not be as catchy as calling Kansas the “Saudi Arabia of wind power,” Brownback deserves credit for backing important progress in diversifying the sources of electricity for hundreds of thousands of residents.
George Hunsucker
Northland
1 year, 3 months agoMoran & Brownback are not following conservative principles if they are asking for more tax gimmicks for KS wind energy. This shortrun backing will not help their futures….
Either the technology is competitive or it is not. Sucking off the govt. teat to make it appear so is wrong and should be stopped. We FINALLY have stopped the wasteful ethanol subsidies. Why, with natural gas at under $3 per mcf should we be subsidizing wind power?
Mark Hastert
1 year, 3 months ago“Moran & Brownback are not following conservative principles if they are asking for more tax gimmicks for KS wind energy.”
Read more here: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/new-gusts-power-kansas-wind-industry/#storylink=cpy
Ain’t no such thing KC, only political expediency. Any one of your conservative heroes (and my liberal heroes too) would sell his mother to the trolls to get what they want.
George Hunsucker
Northland
1 year, 3 months agoUnfortunately Mark, there is a lot of truth in what you say….
I was reading something today and it was talking about this year’s Presidential debates after the R’s have chosen a candidate. There were THREE candidates with the 3rd one being either Evan Byah or John Huntsman. Either of these would probably be a better choice to restart America IMO because either R or D, we will still have the blowing in the wind you talk about and the gotchas for policy….
We need a leader that cares about America, not themselves or their damm party!
George Hunsucker
Northland
1 year, 3 months agoand the windpower or other “green” jobs are especially good if we can pick winners and losers as in the case of Solyndra Chazzy….
the star will never criticize something near and dear to the heart of the fearless leader jimmy obama!!!
Kent Mueller
1 year, 2 months agoThis time the Star uses good, descriptive words in the title.
A “gust” of wind is a sudden, brief spike in wind speed. Emphasis on brief.