Kansas
For first time, wind energy overtakes coal in Kansas — among only two states to do so
Wind energy has overtaken coal in Kansas for the first time.
The American Wind Energy Association reports that wind accounted for the largest share of energy production in Kansas and Iowa in 2019 — the first time that wind was the top source of electricity for any states.
“It’s great to see states like Kansas and Iowa being the first to cross that milestone,” said John Hensley, vice president of research and analytics at AWEA. “This is the first time that we’ve ever seen in any state in the country wind being the number one source of electricity generation ahead of every other technology. So I think it’s a major achievement for the industry.”
The trade association, which lobbies for the expansion of wind energy incentives and production, ranked U.S. states in an annual report released Thursday. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that wind power in Kansas increased to 41% of generation last year as coal production fell, accounting for 33% of total energy production.
For comparison, wind represented less than 4% of the electricity produced in Missouri last year with coal accounting for 73% of the state’s energy production. Missouri was home to 499 wind turbines last year, while Kansas had 3,160, according to the national trade group.
Kansas touts the nation’s fourth-highest total wind capacity with 61,28 megawatt hours — roughly enough energy to power nearly 2 million homes. It also ranked among the top five states for adding new wind capacity in 2019.
In addition to public policy considerations, Hensley said much of the growth in wind energy in Kansas is attributed to the “phenomenal resource” on hand in the state. And there’s plenty more room to grow.
“The potential is still quite tremendous,” he said.
Research suggests Kansas could still add up to 500 gigawatts of wind production. That’s five times the amount of total wind production employed across the entire country. In other terms: the state could potentially support 200,000 more wind turbines — more than triple the 60,000 turbines that spin across the country now.
“Now, you’re never going to see that level of development,” Hensley said. “That’s the technical potential, but it does give you a sense of the tremendous resource that you have in Kansas.”
With climate change ravaging communities across the globe, advocates in Kansas government hope the state’s formidable wind portfolio can help lead the national transition away from carbon-emitting fossil fuels and to renewable energy.
In January, Sunflower Electric Power Corp., after 15 years, abandoned the proposed coal-fired power plant it had lobbied for in southwest Kansas.
Kansas built its prominence in wind production over the last two decades, spurred largely by sprawling wind farms in the western part of the state. But in recent times, property owners have increasingly opposed new wind developments, fearing potential damages to property values and what some believe are harmful health effects.
After Florida-based NextEra announced plans to build more than 80 turbines in Reno County, residents launched a months-long campaign to pressure the company and county leaders to either force turbines farther from their land or call off the project. It worked, and the county blocked the project, though NextEra and a group of landowners sued to overturn the decision.
In August 2019, Sedgwick County leaders voted to ban wind and solar energy installations to protect the aviation industry in Wichita. That decision was made after a planner told the county commission that wind turbines could affect airport operations.
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