Kansas Wind Update
October 29, 2008
by Dorothy Barnett
There is no shortage of wind activities currently happening in Kansas.
On October 23rd Cloud County Community College sponsored a Wind Conference “Kansas Wind – Impact and Current Events” featuring keynote speaker Carole Engelder, Director of construction project management from Horizon Wind. Presentations from Scott White with JW Prairie Wind Power and Dale Jones, President of ENERTECH rounded out the morning session.
The afternoon session began with Joe King from Coriolis discussing both wind and solar opportunities in Kansas, Bo Jones, manager of transmission operations with Westar touched on the need for additional transmission to carry wind energy and then Bruce Graham and Lucas Chavey, instructors for the Cloud County Community College Wind Energy Technology Program wrapped up the afternoon sharing how Cloud has reaped the benefits of this new program. Following the program, participants were able to tour Meridian Way, a Horizon project.
On November 12th, there will be a Landowner Wind Energy Seminar at the Seward County Agriculture Building from 9 am to 3 pm at 1501 West 8th Street in Liberal. The workshop will include the following presentations: Wind Projects, Legal Issues, Policy Issues, Financing Issues, Landowner Leasing.
For reservations contact Colleen Towns, Economic Development Director at (620) 626-2255 or by email ecodevo@cityofliberal.com by November 7th. This event is organized by Kansas Rural Center and Liberal/Seward County Joint Economic Development Council with support from USDA Farm Services, the City of Liberal, Liberal Chamber of Commerce, and Seward County.
On December 3rd there will be a Community Wind Workshop and small commercial turbine installation tour with the Central Prairie RC&D. More details will follow soon.
The Kansas Rural Center is hosting a winter conference on December 13th at St. Monica-St. Elizabeth Catholic Church 1007 East Avenue Blue Rapids, KS which will include some discussion of community and farmer owned wind energy. Return registrations by Dec. 8, 2008 to: Kansas Rural Center Winter Conference Box 133 Whiting, Ks. 66552. Cost is $10 per person. For more information contact Dan Nagengast at ksrc@rainbowtel.net or ddysart@rainbowtel.net.
For more information on wind events in Kansas, please feel free to contact me – Dorothy Barnett, CEP Director of In-State Relations, barnett@climateandenergy.org.
