Kansas ranks in top 5 for wind power in the US. What’s ahead for renewable energy?
Kansas ranks in the top five states in the U.S. for wind power, generating enough renewable energy last year to power about 3.2 million households, according to a report released Wednesday.
The state ranked fourth in its production of wind power behind Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa, according to the study published by Climate Central, a climate communications group. It generated more than 34.2 million megawatt hours of energy, equivalent to $4.1 billion in value.
“We’ve seen the middle part of the country being really strong in wind power,” said Jen Brady with Climate Central.
The report, she said, shows encouraging gains in wind and solar generation, which will help reduce emissions and pursue the goals set out in the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on addressing climate change.
“Seeing positive growth in these means we’re moving towards that and it really looks like we’re starting to get on track to where we need to be to reach those goals, at least the renewable energy sector,” she said.
Zack Pistora, a lobbyist with the Kansas chapter of the Sierra Club, said there are many benefits to wind energy, including the creation of thousands of jobs, millions in lease payments to land owners and building grid resiliency while also reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
“We’re only going to benefit by having more wind going forward in Kansas,” Pistora said. “There’s still a growing market.”
To avoid “growing pains,” Pistora said stakeholders need to continue having local conversations about the location of new wind farms and other concerns, like the red blinking lights atop turbines. Two bills have been introduced in the Kansas Senate to mitigate those lights when aircraft are not in the area.
Solar power lags behind
In contrast to its robust wind energy production, Kansas lags behind on solar generation, coming in 44th, according to Climate Central.
Pistora said Kansas is “just scratching the surface” when it comes to solar power. But it could become a leader, he said, like it did with wind energy production which began in the state about 22 years ago. Options for solar are also easier because panels do not necessarily require large tracts of land like most wind turbines.
There’s been “a lot of talk,” Pistora said of statewide efforts to expand solar power. “We’re still waiting on some action.”
Several measures have been brought to the Kansas Legislature this session to encourage growth of the solar energy sector.
Earlier this month, more than 30 people testified before the House Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunication on a bill that would allow renewable energy producers to sell electricity to consumers, known as a power purchase agreement. Nearly three-quarters voiced support, including the Kansas Chamber and the U.S. Department of Defense, while others like Evergy and the Kansas Corporation Commission opposed the legislation.
A bill in the Senate, requested for introduction by Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Republican from Parker, would provide residents with tax credits for some wind and solar expenditures.
Neighboring Missouri ranked 18th for wind power and 35th for solar power, according to Climate Central.
This story was originally published February 22, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
