by Nancy Jackson
Remember the Pony Express? While those heroic riders endured rain, sleet, and snow, the world was changing around them. In a short eighteen months, it left them behind. The Pony Express didn’t see the telegraph coming – when it arrived, they were done.
At exactly the same time, a stagecoach company called Wells Fargo was transporting passengers, packages and precious gold across the frontier in stage coaches. Unlike their pony-riding peers, the smart folks at Wells Fargo saw trains coming. With big changes afoot, they decided to take a calculated risk.
Wells Fargo looked forward, puts its iconic stage coaches in storage, and focused on keeping money safe and delivering it on time. The result is a multinational financial services empire that thrives today.
Today on the Plains, a new energy economy is coming with a low-carbon future. We will not escape it. But we are uniquely situated to benefit from it.
Kansas is blessed with abundant wind, sun, and biomass – we have huge natural advantages in producing renewable energy. We also live on top of some of the most promising geologic formations in the country for compressed air energy storage (which could act like a battery for wind) and long-term storage of carbon dioxide. Better yet – a good number of those very same formations yet hold oil and gas that may be economically recoverable with, would you believe, injection of carbon dioxide? Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is a well tested practice and would pay to develop the infrastructure (pipe, injection technology) for storage and sequestration later.
If you are shaking your head and feeling a little sorry for me because clearly I just don’t know that much about energy or economics, I won’t hold it against you. But I will refer you to the case above and ask again: who do you want to be? The Pony Express? Or Wells Fargo?
The new energy economy is coming, folks. Financial giants like Warren Buffett and T. Boone Pickens are investing heavily in wind energy. Many of the dot.com geniuses who brought us the information age (and this blog) are similarly invested in solar, wind, biofuels, and wave energy. Energy giants (and huge greenhouse gas emitters) like Duke Energy, American Electric Power, and Florida Power & Light see a low-carbon world coming and are acting now to create carbon legislation at the federal level, as well as regional cap-and-trade systems. They will ensure that their business survives and their customers thrive.
We in the Heartland have an opportunity today to be part of the solution. This is that rare chance to do well while doing good, because the new energy economy brings with it many well-paid, non-exportable green collar jobs – jobs for which our state universities and technical colleges can train a new work force. Our best and brightest will have the opportunity – and also the desire – to stay in Kansas, because it will be “re-branded.” Kansas can be the new energy capitol of America. We can lead the nation in developing solutions for a low-carbon world.
Kansas has led before. Our ancestors stood up against the grave injustice of slavery, though its economics had been remarkably good. Our Free State was pivotal then, and it can be again today.
Skepticism and doubt rarely lead – few fortunes have ever been made by people who list the reasons a thing will not work. Innovation, hope, and determination do lead – and fortunes are made by those who create elegant solutions to pressing problems.
Who do you want to be?
— Nancy Jackson, CEP Executive Director
www.climateandenergy.org
Why am I here, when this bill (that passed the House with a very high margin) just got folded into the Holcomb/ energy bill that is now on its way to the governor?
A couple of reasons. One, energy efficiency is a very important strategy in creating energy policy for Kansas. CEP likes to keep track of what folks have to say about important energy policies. Two, there is a chance - who knows what size of a chance - that the governor will veto that bill, it will not be overridden, and thus this original bill is still a live and happening thing.
As always, it could be an interesting meeting - or it could be much, much less interesting. However, there is other stuff on the docket as well. I will just summarize that.
The committee is here. Chairman Emler, Vice-Chair Apple, and Senators Taddiken, Lee, Pine, Francisco, and Reitz
the possible future of carbon regulation in Kansas
January 22, 2008
CEP’s Community Energy Forum in Salina went very well last night. (There is another in Overland Park tonight, and another in Topeka tomorrow - see CEP press release for details.)
CEP invited analysts from energy consulting firm Synapse Energy to the forum, and they had some interesting things to say. If you’d like to see the .pdf of the powerpoint presentation by David Schlissel and Ezra Hausman, please click here (.pdf, 1.3 MB)
From the Harris News coverage, some quotables:
Synapse senior consultant David Schlissel said federal limits on coal plants’ carbon emissions are “more than likely” in the near future.
“A proposal before Congress right now would mandate steep reductions of 50 to 80 percent in CO2 emissions,” Schlissel said. “The adoption of these federal regulations will mean substantial costs for new power plants that are coal- or gas-fired. Coal, of course, is the most carbon intensive.”
Synapse has developed a forecast of expected costs related to carbon emissions for power plants and other businesses.
If the regulatory cost, for instance, becomes $20 per ton each year, companies such as Sunflower that emit 12 million tons annually will have to purchase allowances of at least $240 million.
Part of Sunflower’s response that I found interesting - they again mentioned the potential of their bioenergy project (which is not contained in their proposal) as a partial offset to some of the problems with the proposed coal plant.
A while back, an argument you heard a lot was that Kansas wind power couldn’t be developed without transmission lines for coal power, and that turned out not to be the case. Now the coal cart is getting hitched to biofuels - but there’s a lot of lower cost ways to produce biofuels, with a lot more proven technology.
Also re renewables - on one hand, renewables are booming right now. On the other hand… that could all go south pretty quick (or at least take a significant detour) if the federal government does not renew the production tax credits for wind and solar. The renewal of these credits did not make it through the highly contentious battle over the energy bill, and the initiative is now up again before Congress (CSMonitor).
-– Maril Hazlett
Want to know more about climate and energy issues? Check out www.climateandenergy.org.
state of the state
January 14, 2008
Text from tonight’s State of the State address by Kansas Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius. (I’m racing the clock, here, the KU game will be on in 17 minutes.) Quotable - or, pretty much everything she said about energy - and please note the parts I put in bold:
As we assist businesses, workers and families with innovation in reforming our health care system, so too must we work together in meeting the unprecedented challenge of finding clean, affordable, and secure sources of energy to meet this nation’s growing demand.
We are at a moment in our country’s history similar to the moment nearly 100 years ago, when two innovative entrepreneurs, Clyde Cessna and Walter Beech, came to Kansas, joined a fledgling industry, and made history. Today, over 50% of the airplanes flown in the world are made in Kansas, and our economy, our state and the country has benefited from their vision and determination.
We can again lead an American transformation – lead America to energy security by tapping our fertile resources, our workers, and the ingenuity of Kansas entrepreneurs. We can – and we must - reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and increase our economic competitiveness by using our natural resources. Kansas is uniquely positioned to meet this challenge.
Our nation is in the midst of a bio-energy revolution that will fundamentally change the way we produce and consume energy. My budget recommends the creation of a Bioenergy Research Grant Program, to spur development of innovative new technologies producing the most cost-efficient renewable fuels.
Congress has recently set an aggressive goal for alternative fuel production by 2022. Kansas can and should be a leader in reaching America’s goal. I have charged the Kansas Bioscience Authority with developing an aggressive plan for bio-energy technology and production, aimed at producing 20 percent of the nation’s alternative fuel needs.
But our opportunity to find new and better sources of power doesn’t end with biofuels. Kansas is one of the best states in the nation for wind power. Until recently we had not even begun to harness this resource. Five years ago only one percent of our energy came from wind. Today, we are well on our way to meeting my goal of ten percent renewable energy by 2010 and twenty percent by 2020.
Construction of the state’s fourth wind farm is now complete and many more are in the planning stages. Sunflower Wind has announced that they will begin manufacturing wind turbines in Hutchinson, creating as many as 250 permanent jobs. These commitments, along with announcements of new transmission lines, and the recent decision of the Kansas Corporation Commission that wind production is a prudent investment, are having a positive impact.
To continue the momentum, I have created the Kansas Wind Working Group and appointed Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson as chair, to aggressively pursue our opportunities and incentives for wind power, as well as to encourage Kansas communities to invest in wind projects.
Finally, the cheapest and cleanest form of energy is energy we don’t use in the first place. Conservation and efficiency measures can extend our current energy capacity much farther into the future. With aggressive conservation efforts involving individuals, businesses and government, we can reduce our need for electricity, and still continue to grow.
We must embrace the Kansas Energy Council’s proposal to require that all new state buildings meet minimum energy efficiency standards. We challenge private developers and business owners to join us in that commitment.
Regulatory support for utility companies to educate and encourage conservation efforts for their customers is essential. I am also proposing standards that will provide for more Kansans to qualify for interest-free loans to improve the energy efficiency of their own homes.
By capitalizing on our state’s assets, we will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, boost our rural economy, and protect the environment for our children’s future. We need to join the 36 states that have begun or completed development of a comprehensive climate change action plan. It is clear the people of Kansas welcome an informed discussion about our energy future, economic opportunities, and the protection of our environment. We can rise to the challenges we face only if we commit ourselves to moving forward.
“Comprehensive climate change action plan” - woo hoo! Giant. That’s giant. Also will be interesting. A fair number of folks in the legislature are not convinced, shall we say, of the scientific evidence supporting climate change. The KPR analysis had a lot to say about this tension as well. Well, there probably won’t be many dull moments.
Opposition/ Republican response from House Speaker Melvin Neufeld (text from KC Star)- his comments on energy. Again, note my bold:
Kansas Republicans believe a strong state energy policy will truly make Kansas open for business and economic development.
Last fall, the governor’s administration denied the permit for an energy center and coal-plant in Holcomb.
The denial did not address the real issue –the need for a state energy policy that provides affordable electric rates today - addresses the disparity of rates paid by Kansas homeowners and businesses - and meets our growing energy demands in the future.
Kansas Republicans believe this can be accomplished with a policy that encourages adequate baseload energy, renewable energy, and energy conservation. It also must be based on sound scientific and economic analyses that carefully address costs and benefits.
Alternative energies like wind and solar power can play an important role in our state’s energy portfolio, but the simple fact is wind turbines and sunshine alone cannot meet our growing demand for electricity.
Our policy also must ensure our state laws and regulations are applied in a fair and uniform manner. Businesses wanting to build or expand in Kansas must know what is expected of them so they can build plants that meet our needs and requirements.
Together, I am confident we can establish a state energy policy that protects our environment, the security of our state’s energy future, Kansas ratepayers, and encourages economic growth.
KPR interpreted that bold section to mean that Neufeld is not prepared to accept the scientific findings regarding climate change. Which in turn has implications for his regulatory approach to creating a sound energy policy for Kansans. I unfortunately cannot find that audio file posted to the web - but try this link (and re-try it) to see if it will get you there eventually.
Game’s on! Gotta go!
— Maril Hazlett
Want to know more about climate and energy issues in the Midwest? Check out www.climateandenergy.org.
biofuels
January 11, 2008
Super-important report on the sustainability of biofuels, just out yesterday from the Ecological Society of America. Quotable from the press release:
“Current grain-based ethanol production systems damage soil and water resources in the U.S. and are only profitable in the context of tax breaks and tariffs,” says ESA. “Future systems based on a combination of cellulosic materials and grain could be equally degrading to the environment, with potentially little carbon savings, unless steps are taken now that incorporate principles of ecological sustainability.”
At a community forum between Douglas County KS voters and their legislators, energy issues dominated the discussion. More speculation about whether all issues in the upcoming legislative session will be held hostage to those legislators who want to push the Holcomb coal plants through and remove powers from KDHE, which denied the air quality permits for the proposed plants (LJWorld).
The Topeka Farm Show featured green energy this year (Topeka Capital-Journal). I sighed longingly when I read about the geothermal systems. Also, via the CEP network (you know who you are, and thank you) a really neato article about digital tools that can help you conserve energy (NYTimes).
Last, an interesting review of Energy Autonomy, a book I’ve been dying to read - that pause is there, actually, because I just had a brief moment of hysterical laughter. Read a book! When am I going to have time to do that? Okay, better now. But the review is tiding me over for now. Read it; it’s good.
Remember that I am biased, however, in favor of anything that uses the word “decentralized.” And since I like that word so much maybe I didn’t read the review as critically after I saw that. Sorry, it’s a human nature thing. We all have our hot buttons or happy buttons that, when pushed, usually turn off our brains.
(read the review anyway!!)
— Maril Hazlett
Want to know more about climate and energy issues in the Midwest? Check out www.climateandenergy.org.
energy, ice, climate - watching, wondering…
January 10, 2008
News first: this year’s Kansas City Home Remodeling Show is going green, with an emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable energy. The event will be held at the American Royal Building February 8-10.
Ethanol producers are looking for transportation options for their product, and the existing oil infrastructure looks quite attractive (Reuters). I’ll admit - I read that article’s headline and first thought, oh dear, that’s like when my cat fell in love with a stuffed animal and the two of them just were not compatible for a long-term relationship.
However, it now appears that there are some technologies underway that could make it possible for ethanol and oil products to share the same infrastructure. My poor cat never got so lucky.
Via my awesome web designer Ramsey, a post from the GreenTech Pastures blog on the potential of switchgrass. Funny headline: “Fifty million buffalo were right.” Part of switchgrass’s appeal is that it can be treated as a perennial crop. This has the added benefit of its intensive root system keeping carbon fixed in the soil. Quotable re its other benefits:
A five-year federal study found that switchgrass can produce 540% more energy than it takes to farm it. Wow, that’s very different from the heavily subsidized and fertilized corn crop now being used to produce ethanol biofuel. Corn produces only about 25% more energy and even soy-based biodiesel is less than 100% more energy productive. Switchgrass could also be used to produce ethanol. That would reduce greenhouse emissions compared to current gasoline.
Lovely rainy day out there. Good moment to get philosophical. I’ve mentioned the recent Kansas ice storm once or twice on the blog, and it came up again the other day when I was talking to Dan Nagengast, director of the Kansas Rural Center.
One of the effects of the storm, of course, was that it took down big chunks of the grid. Lots of people lost power, some for weeks. Oklahoma was in even worse shape. Utility linemen from all over the country poured in to help our region out. This week, those same guys are probably in California and Utah, picking up after the storms out there. Next week, who knows where else they will be.
Well - Dan and I were wondering about the human costs to their families, having a loved one gone so unpredictably all the time. And how climate change could increase human costs like this, in ways that are very hard to quantify and track.
As the wife of a firefighter-paramedic, I feel I have some insight into this problem. I’m not crazy about tornado sirens to begin with (who is) but when they go off, his beeper goes off, too, and away he goes. Heavy rains, high water, heavy snow or ice accumulation - these are events that I often handle on my own, because he is helping other people. Linemen and linemen’s spouses are probably in a similar situation.
And on one hand - sure. We’re used to that. I’m used to it. I knew it when I signed up, so to speak. There’s times I’m not too pleased, but that’s part of life. Instead, you just concentrate on when you get to have him back.
However - what if the frequency and intensity of these sort of extreme weather events changes? (That article links to a study about the possibility of increased tornado frequency with climate change, from Scientific American.)
Like I said, the human costs - the impacts on families - would be very hard to quantify and track. Unfortunately, that does mean they would take any less of a toll.
— Maril Hazlett
Want to know more about climate and energy issues in the Midwest? Check out www.climateandenergy.org.
blog harvest
January 8, 2008
Just checking out a few climate, energy, ag, and military blogs… over at Agricultural Observatory, they posted an article about how the pending farm bill has big energy implications for farmers. Mostly in terms of biomass. Along those lines, anyone interested in biofuels and policy issues should be reading Nathaniel Green’s Switchboard blog over at NRDC.
Climate Progress has a thought-provoking entry on a recent Univ of Maryland study, which looks at the high economic costs of doing nothing about climate change. If you are interested in climate change adaptation at all (and folks involved in emergency response, etc., this probably means you) follow the link the to study, read the executive summary, and also download the regional summary for the Great Plains (or the Midwest. Like so many maps of these regions, KS flip-flops between the two. For heaven’s sake. I don’t think that particular category is an either/or choice, myself. But bless their hearts the study was done in Maryland.)
And if any of those researchers should happen to find this link 
no, I am actually not a geographical bigot. I just think few people really get Kansas. At times that even includes Kansans, though, so no hard feelings.
Onward with the blog harvest. Sustainablog covers what seems to be a super-cool article about solar in this January’s Scientific American. Quotable: “The magazine proposes a massive, far-reaching plan to get solar power generating 69 percent of America’s electricity 35 percent of our total energy by 2050, thus replacing all of our foreign oil needs and slashing global warming emissions.” If you want to know more about the PV and CSP solar technologies mentioned, see CEP’s solar page.
For folks interested in the nuts and bolts of how to use renewable energies in their homes and daily lives, Mother Earth News covers the best renewable energy books.
And this time none of my milblogs yielded anything about renewables. But sometimes they do.
— Maril Hazlett
Want to know about climate and energy issues in the Midwest (or hey, the Great Plains)? Check out www.climateandenergy.org.
nice quote
January 7, 2008
I am adding this quote to the CEP website, but thought I would post it here as well. From an email to CEP Executive Director Nancy Jackson, by K-State Professor of Agricultural Economics, Barry Flinchbaugh (and we have permission to quote):
I found the poll quite interesting. To reach 25X25 which Congress
and the President have now declared our goal in the energy bill every source
of renewables must be pursued. In Kansas that is obviously wind and
cellulose. We have an abundant supply of both. Science and capital
investment will make it work.
Folks might be interested in taking a closer look at the 25×25 initiative. (Also, he is referring to the recent CEP poll.)
— Maril Hazlett
