Energy talk dominates meeting of NW Kansas mayors

Energy was one of several hot issues discussed Saturday, as mayors from across northwest Kansas gathered in Hays for an annual Northwest Kansas Mayors Association summit.

Representatives from several communities gathered at Fort Hays State University for an opportunity to network and discuss issues important throughout the region.

"It's the collaboration and the networking, finding out that, even though we're different in size, we have a lot of the same concerns and same needs," said Hays Mayor Barbara Wasinger.

With the energy debate garnering media attention and a subject of political consideration nationally and locally, a good portion of the morning was spent learning about this common concern.

Wind energy, coal energy and natural gas were discussed as the group heard from a wind company representative and local energy utilities.

Krista Gordon, a wind project manager with Iberdrola Renewable Energies, discussed the advantages of wind energy, advances in technology and trends in wind energy production.

While the permit still faces a legal challenge, Iberdrola has won permission to build a wind farm southwest of Hays.

The U.S. has become the country harvesting wind energy at the fastest pace, with more than 20,000 megawatts currently in production, Gordon said.

Wind energy also has been an issue affecting local governments, which have the authority to oversee project developments. And with a good wind resource in western Kansas, pursuit of wind development is expected to continue, she said.

"If you look at this on a national scale, western Kansas really stands out among other states as having tremendous wind potential," Gordon said. "We all know it's windy out here, and the wind data proves what we already know."

Bill Dowling, vice president of energy management and supply at Midwest Energy, also discussed the importance of multiple energy sources, and explained how diversity affects the power pool.

While wind development is good -- and on the increase -- production from this resource is not always stable, he said.

The amount of energy produced from wind turbines obviously depends on the weather, and as this output fluctuates, other energy sources must make accommodations to ensure total energy output remains consistent.

Thus, it's important to have a well-balanced energy policy so the transmission lines can continue operating to its full potential, he said.

"If you want wind, you've got to take it when the wind blows," Dowling said.

"And you've got to take the amount that's available, right now, and it's going to change, now. So you've got to be able to follow that."

Rising costs also are an issue, and other sources, such as coal energy currently can be produced for less money than wind, he said.

A multi-faceted energy approach, including coal, wind and oil exploration, also was discussed by Clare Gustin, vice president of member services and external affairs at Sunflower Electric.

"I think you can make the argument, if we need to be able to meet the electricity demand of our country, first of all, we need all resources," she said.

Sunflower's proposal for expanded coal plants in southwest Kansas received national attention earlier this year after a veto from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was sustained.

Following this decision, a number of local government entities passed ordinances expressing their support of a balanced energy policy, and Gustin encouraged mayors present to consider this action.

Ultimately, however, it is the utility's responsibility to utilize available resources to supply electricity to meet the increasing demand, she said.

"We always have and always will continue to look at, what are the things that we need to do to keep the lights on in a reliable fashion and provide the lowest cost rates, the lowest possible rates that we can deliver," Gustin said.