LAWRENCE (AP) -- State and federal officials say Kansas has
great potential for developing wind power but lacks enough transmission
lines to spur further development of renewable energy.
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.