Climate and energy

Way up in northeastern Kansas at our house, the groundhog definitely did not see his shadow this morning. He saw ice fog instead.

Senator Sam Brownback sees potential for national transmission legislation that could help Kansas. From the Topeka Capitol-Journal: “He said the Democratic-led Congress could turn attention to an energy bill that could include opportunities to develop transmission lines needed to deliver wind power to consumers.”

Why Kansas schools should implement wind power. From the Phillips County Economic Development blog:

In light of the increasing utility costs, expanding schools needs, and diminishing revenues, schools across the country should consider (if possible) a new and forward-thinking solution with countless benefits: renewable energy from wind power. By harnessing the wind that blows across playgrounds, school buildings, and parking lots,  the administrators and communities could realize the immediate rewards of a community-sized wind turbine brought to their facility.

Barber County Development to hold regional wind symposium. From the High Plains Journal:

Sponsored by RSI Wind, Jan. 28 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the Kiowa Community Center at 119 S 5th in Kiowa, Kan. A similar event was held in January 2008 and more than 150 participants from throughout Kansas and Oklahoma attended.

Since then Barber County has a new wind farm: Flat Ridge. This wind farm brought not only construction jobs and money to the area but also permanent employees and a yearly monetary allotment to Barber County. Not to mention a working partnership with the forerunners in Wind Energy: BP, Westar, and Clipper. These companies have become good community neighbors and the area will continue to benefit from having such environmentally conscientious and nationally known allies. Guest speakers will be addressing a variety of topics including: potential wind farm expansion in the area, new transmission line projects, community leasing, wind and the rural electric Co-Ops, the Governor’s 20/20 plan, economic impact of wind development to the area….

… Barber County Development, Inc is also holding an art contest for both Medicine Lodge and South Barber K-5 students. The topic is “Wind Energy” and the art will be displayed and judged at the conference. Each participating student will receive a pinwheel. This program is designed to engage students and spark their interest in Wind Energy.

Siemens’ energy plan – diversify. From Climateer:

One-third of all the energy-generating capacity in the U.S. uses Siemens’ power-generating equipment. Impressive. Siemens Energy employs about 12,000 people in the U.S., mostly in manufacturing and services. Siemens has factories that make rotor blades and nacelles for wind turbines in Hutchison, Kansas, and Fort Madison, Iowa. It operates a factory that make turbines for gas-powered plants in Charlotte, N.C. In nuclear, after pulling out of a joint venture with Areva in which it was a minority partner, Siemens has formed a partnership with Rosatom, a fast-growing state-owned atomic energy firm in Russia. Last year, Siemens bought a 40% stake in Arava, an Israeli firm that makes utility-scale solar thermal power plants. That’s a business that should work in the southwest U.S.

Potential of wind energy for Kansas. From the High Plains Journal.

Earning the hearts and minds of farmers and rural landowners may prove easier, since they may see the benefits of hosting a wind turbine. Hosting a wind turbine generally makes $2,500 to $4,000 per MW and can generate $100,000 per year, which is then spent locally. Usually, hosting a wind turbine is a 20- to 30-year contract and requires about 100 acres out of production for a 2 MW turbine.

— posted by Maril Hazlett, www.climateandenergy.org