Council seeks solutions in energy’s future

By Beth Beavers

Thursday, November 19, 2009

More than 150 people from across the state met at the Dole Institute of Politics to discuss how wind energy, biofuels and smart grid technology fit into Kansas’ economic future. The experts advocated these alternative energy solutions, but Kansas — and the nation — lacks the infrastructure necessary to implement them.

Jeremy Viscomi, program officer for the KU Energy Council, said the event, the second annual University Energy Council, provided the opportunity for federal and state organizations that specialize in energy research to share information.

“We want to grow energy research on campus, commercialize it, and get it to people around the state,” Viscomi said.

Viscomi said the different organizations, which included the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Westar Energy, Inc., the Kansas City Area Development Council, and Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, were asked to focus on three key areas: personal perspective on energy landscape, emerging technologies in energy research, and how those emerging technologies will affect Kansas.

Kyle Nelson, senior vice president for Sunflower Electric, discussed energy alternatives and problems associated with them. Nelson said that for these new technologies to work a massive energy infrastructure must be put into place. He said that a new infrastructure could take up to 20 years to build, and cost $15 billion to $20 billion.

Nelson said the problem with solar technologies is that once the energy is generated, it is consumed instantly and there is no significant storage system. Nelson said that Sunflower Electric was a not-for-profit cooperative, so it is owned by the customers that utilize its services. Because of this business model, Sunflower Electric cannot risk significant capital on unproven technology.

“It is a tough problem that will take decades to solve,” Nelson said.

Kimberly Hernandez, Hutchinson senior, said she was active with several student environmental groups on campus including KU Environs and Chevron Energy Solutions. She said that while she had been involved with many environmentally themed projects as a student, she attended the event because she wanted to learn more about what was happening at a professional level.

“There are a lot of questions about how to implement the technologies,” Hernandez said. “It’s an interesting conversation to have, because how do you define sustainability? There is no secure definition. It’s great to have the conversation and define what it means in terms of the University.”

Marvin Duncan, senior agricultural economic with the USDA, spoke about biomass and biofuel. Viscomi said biomass — plant matter that can be turned into fuel — and biofuel were important because Kansas is an agriculture-based state. Corn, wheat and grass are some of the kinds of biomass available in Kansas.

Jim Ludwig, executive vice president for Westar Energy Inc., spoke about a $19 million grant Westar received to use new smartgrid technology for Lawrence. The United States Department of Energy said on its Web site that the current grid is limited in what and how much it can do.

Tim Cowden, senior vice president for the Kansas City Area Development Council, said that the the council’s function was to bring jobs to the area. Cowden said that the Kansas City area was full of alternative technologies, including wind energy and biofuels.

“We want to use talent from our universities in our area,” Cowden said.

Scott Allegrucci, director of The Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy, or GPACE, said the inclusion of Sunflower Electric posed a problem because Sunflower had no research or relationship with the University. He said he would have liked to see more speakers discussing use of natural gas instead of coal, which Sunflower uses, and see more research representatives.

“Why don’t you invite those that will own and use energy in the state?” Allegrucci said. “I suggested they add someone who can talk about Kansas renewables and natural gas, which is a Kansas resource that is cleaner than coal.”

Allegrucci said he had participants willing to speak at the event, but the agenda was set and there was no room for more speakers.

Viscomi said that the event was filled to capacity, and had 70 more attendees than last year.

— Edited by Sarah Kelly

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