Wind talk whips through area
By MIKE CORN
OAKLEY -- It was something of an ice-breaker, county commissioners from 13 northwest Kansas counties attending a summit Wednesday to talk about presenting a united front in dealing with the emerging issue of producing electricity from wind.
While no specific decisions were made, the group -- numbering more than 50 in all -- agreed to proceed with the idea of a regional wind compact and meet again in a month.
Wednesday was a time for questions -- and a few answers -- on the issue of wind.
At least one commissioner from Scott County suggested that perhaps the counties trade ideas on how best to regulate wind farms, an idea that gained favor because some of the larger wind projects could cross county lines.
Sen. Sam Brownback was the featured speaker, detailing some of his thoughts on what the federal government can do to foster wind generation.
But he also learned the federal tax credit that has boosted many wind projects is generally not available to farmers or cooperatives that might undertake smaller projects or band together for larger projects.
He also learned that producing electricity in the far western reaches of Kansas is limited because it cannot generally be sent west, part of a separate system that needs a converter to make the leap from one grid to another.
Such a converter was included in Sunflower Electric's plan to build two new coal-fired power plants, a move that was required because most of the power would be sent to customers in Colorado. Some of the power would have remained in Kansas, for use by the cooperatives that own Sunflower, as well as Midwest Energy in Hays.
Wednesday's meeting was put together by Dan Hartman, Logan County's economic development director.
Although he initially had hoped for as few as four or five counties, the idea grew until 13 counties agreed to participate.
"It's the old where do you stop?" he said.
Brownback was already in Logan County as part of his 105-county listening tour.
"This is county No. 70," he said.
While the meeting was about serious stuff, Brownback had to poke fun at a wind potential map that showed most of Kansas in pink -- reflecting wind speed of 16.8 to 17.9 mph at a height of 70 meters. That represents ideal wind-generation potential.
"I didn't think anything about western Kansas was pink," he said. "Maybe red."
Despite the color, Brownback said there is a real potential for wind power coming from western Kansas.
"We are in a sweet spot for wind," he said.
At the federal level, Brownback said he supports the idea of extending tax credits for wind development.
"Not just for one year but five years," he said. "Problem is, we've got to find the offsets for it."
Brownback also favors the notion of requiring renewable power in every energy portfolio.
Development of transmission facilities -- to move the power from generation sites to spots where it is needed -- could be the difficult part of the equation, he said.
"We're going to have to try to figure out how we move this electricity," he said.
There's also the notion of research involving electricity, such as the idea of converting electricity to hydrogen and then ultimately to anhydrous ammonia.
"I say that as one of the outside-of-the-box areas," he said.
Although not a commissioner, Gove County resident Rich Roemer wanted to know about harnessing solar power.
"I think the big thing we can help on is research," Brownback said, noting difficulties in solar power issues. "Here, the wind, we know we've got a sweet spot here."
Brownback said he even is looking at the idea of a small wind generation unit at his home in Topeka.
"I want to do it," he said of the wind power idea. "But I don't want to do it stupid."
In starting things rolling, Hartman said, it's not what he wants that matters.
"I'd like to see us collaborate and move forward," he said. "But it's not up to me. It's about you."
The group agreed to move ahead and plans to meet at 10 a.m. Sept. 17 in Oakley. Because the meetings are drawing a majority of some county's commissioners, they are open to the public.