Climate and energy

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States.

In high schools across the nation, this year’s national debate topic is alternative energy. CEP has invited some of the best and brightest Kansas high school debate students to weigh in on the topic. Our Energy Debate ‘08 Guest Blog series will feature six debate teams across the state, from Dodge City to Overland Park.

Today’s contributor is Ben Goossen, a senior at Washburn Rural in Topeka. Here’s his answer to the question we posed: What does Kansas’ energy future hold?

Kansas has historically been an energy production state. Until recently, Kansas was a net exporter of both coal and petroleum, but with rising energy demand and an expanding population, Kansas politicians will have to re-evaluate the role our state will play in America’s fight against global warming and fossil fuel dependence. Kansas already leads many states in alternative energy development, and the DOE ranks Kansas wind potential third in the nation. Despite this, renewable energy production comprises just one percent of Kansas electricity.

The problem with renewables is that despite a high profile and increasing public emphasis on “going green,” the technology is difficult to produce on a massive scale. To power an electrical grid entirely on solar or wind energy would require vast tracts of public land and extensive new facilities with relatively inefficient storage capacity.

Another question is how to meet peak demand load, which typically arises at 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, both times with minimal wind or sun exposure. During these times, almost all of Kansas’s electricity must be powered with coal, natural gas, or nuclear.

Even with current measures for alternative energy throughout the United States, experts predict that by 2030, fossil fuels will still power 87% of our nation’s electricity. Taking geometric population and demand growth into account, this will require an additional 72% increase in coal and a 42% increase in oil, meaning that we will be emitting one and a half times as much greenhouse gas, and spending more than twice as much on resource importation.

The solution to this is clearly new breakthroughs and increased reliance on alternative energies. While Kansas has made important strides in alternative energy incentives, such as passing a voluntary Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) earlier this year, far more has to be done. Economically feasible short term suggestions would be to mandate the statewide RPS (which requires a certain percentage of companies’ energy to come from renewable sources) and to further develop our state’s wind potential. Without these and even more aggressive measures, Kansas will increasingly rely on imported energy.

CEP Debate ‘08 series coordinated by CEP Director of Outreach, Eileen Horn