EnergyBiz - January/February 2008 - (Page 10) » FInanCIaL FRont EnErgyBiz Do you think carbon sequestration technology will soon be a reality? How does that affect your view on the desirability of the proposed Sunflower coal project? sEBELius Everything we’ve read about carbon sequestration suggests that it will not be a commercial reality for another 10 years. While the current technology has not yet been successful to eliminate large amounts of carbon emissions, additional research and experimentation are essential. We are hopeful that Kansas can be at the forefront of these efforts which is why I signed legislation which provides incentives for the carbon sequestration. EnErgyBiz Many utilities are exploring development of new nuclear power plants. Would you like to see more nuclear power generation in Kansas? sEBELius This past legislative session I signed a bill which provides a property tax exemption for new nuclear generation facilities within three miles of an existing nuclear facility, and exempts such facilities from various siting requirements. There is still significant concern about storage issues for spent rods which needs to be explored. EnErgyBiz Federal studies show that Kansas could be a leader in wind generation given wind resource patterns. What should be done to promote wind generation in the state? sEBELius This past May, I negotiated an agreement with the leaders of the major utilities serving Kansas to reach goals of 10 percent generating capacity from wind by 2010 and 20 percent by 2020. The combination of existing wind projects – those already announced, under construction, and requests for proposals for future development – virtually assure that we will exceed the 2010 goal and will be well on our way toward meeting the 2020 goal. EnErgyBiz One limiting factor for wind generation is adequate transmission lines. The wind often does not blow where people live. Do you support more robust investment in transmission lines to address this situation? Do you think Kansas wind could one day help power Dallas, Chicago and Denver? sEBELius I have included money in my budget to plan for transmission lines to move electricity from Kansas wind farms to Kansas customers. Recently, the Southwest Power Pool approved two new transmission projects in Western and Central Kansas. These new transmission lines will help Kansas harness our abundant wind potential and serve as a catalyst for alternative energy sources in the future. after the coal-fired power plant was rejected, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment approved a new ethanol plant, signaling that Kansas is open for business. In the past five years we’ve seen tens of thousands of Kansans go back to work, maintained an unemployment level below the national average and steered our budget clear of a billion dollar debt – all without drastically deepening our carbon footprint. We will continue to work to bring new jobs to all areas in Kansas while protecting the health and safety of our citizens. Other comments? It is true that Kansas ranks 10th in per capita carbon dioxide emissions. It is also true that Kansas ranks 25th among the states in total carbon dioxide emissions. These statistics reflect the enormous opportunity we have to reduce emissions by focusing on energy conservation and efficiency in all sectors of our economy. The question of where we get our energy is therefore no longer just an economic issue, nor solely an issue of national security. Quite simply, we have a moral obligation to be good stewards of this state, because we are only here for a short time and we will ultimately pass it on to our children. We are called on by the future to act now to meet this challenge, and to take advantage of the amazing opportunity Kansas has to become a leader in the production of renewable energy. EnErgyBiz sEBELius FINANCIAL FRONT Gatherings www.energycentral.com/events To view any of these events, please go to www.energycentral.com/ ) into the quick link box. quicklink and type the quick link code ( FEBRUARy 5-6 Concentrated Solar Power Congress Barcelona, Spain 6-7 6 7-8 7-8 26-28 | | Clean-Technology Investor Summit | Wind Power Finance & Investment | Wind Power, Nordic and Baltic Region | Web Self-Service for Utilities | Credit & Collections for Utilities Palm Springs, Calif. San Diego Gothenburg, Sweden Orlando, Fla. Miami E17689 E17549 E17698 E17451 E17614 E17453 The Kansas decision to not allow construction of the proposed two new Sunflower coal-fired generation plants has attracted national attention. Is there a danger that the decision could be perceived as “antigrowth” or “anti-business”? sEBELius We are eager for new business opportunities and new jobs in Kansas and are pleased to have a recovering economy with opportunities for new industries to emerge. In addition to harnessing our enormous potential for wind energy, our ethanol industry continues to grow. A few weeks EnErgyBiz MARCH 4-5 Texas Power Markets Houston 11-13 13-14 27-28 | | Carbon Market Insights | Coal Properties & Investments | Opportunities, Russian Oil & Gas Copenhagen, Denmark Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Moscow E17687 E17458 E17128 E17495 10 E n E rgyB i z January/February 2008 http://www.energycentral.com/events http://www.energycentral.com/quicklink http://www.energycentral.com/quicklink
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