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| Wind power discussion on hold |
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| News - Miami County Government | |||
| Written by Robin Hixson | |||
| Friday, 30 January 2009 09:00 | |||
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Representatives for Kansas City Power & Light’s wind energy division delivered a presentation to the Miami County Commission Wednesday as part of the county’s effort to learn more about the alternative energy source. Commissioners tabled the Miami County Planning Department’s proposal at a recent meeting for implementation of wind energy conversion system regulations in the county. Roger Bollinger, superintendent of Wind Operations at Spearville Wind Energy farm in Ford County, spoke in tandem with KCP&L Wind Project Manager Phillip Duncan about the logistics of wind farms. They also provided data in a PowerPoint presentation about wind power potential in all parts of Kansas. A map showing wind potential across the state at a height of 50 meters revealed in Miami County, potential is marginal to poor. Winds at 100 meters above ground level show more potential in Miami County, but they still do not come close to that of counties farther west. Duncan said the only wind farm project even proposed in eastern Kansas is in northwest Bourbon County. Kansas is 12th among the states in wind power production, having eight wind farms. Miami County Planning Commission Chairman Hannes Poetter asked whether there is a loss of electricity when it is transmitted over longer distances. Duncan said that is a problem. However, he said, wind energy potential tends to be better in rural regions that are far from the populated areas that have the most demand, so losing some power in long-distance transit from a high producing wind farm is better than placing a poorly producing wind farm closer to the area of demand. During the regular county commission meeting later in the day, Miami County Planning Director Charlene Weiss distributed copies of a bill to be presented to the Kansas Legislature, which if passed as written, will forbid restriction of private wind power systems by cities or counties. After hearing Weiss read several passages in that bill, the commission decided to put the previously tabled proposal for county wind power regulations on hold until the current session of the Kansas Legislature ends.
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