At a gathering Tuesday in Lawrence, more than 100 energy policy-makers and advocates heard that current transmission lines are near capacity. The lack of available capacity makes it difficult to move wind energy generated in the western areas of Kansas to larger cities and towns in the east.

Gov. Mark Parkinson said the federal government can help by offering more guidance on renewable energy development and helping getting transmission lines built.

"What we know from our experience here in Kansas is that no single state and no single utility has the resources to solve this problem," Parkinson said. "It is only going to be solved on a very large regional basis and ultimately on a national basis."

A federal energy official said authorities need more power to decide where and how to build transmission lines across state borders, much like it does with natural gas pipelines. Phil Moeller of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said the desire for cleaner, renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions was driving wind energy projects.

"The wind industry is fundamentally changing the (energy) industry," Moeller said.