
Ellsworth County rancher Jim Warta talks about the 11 wind turbines that populate his pastures, he’s a big proponent of wind energy. Image: Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle
Wind energy deployment hit a snag in Kansas after a group of landowners from the central and eastern part of the state signed a petition to stop the turbines citing decreased property value and negative health effects as their reason for not wanting the project. As the Wichita Eagle reported, “after Florida-based NextEra announced plans to build more than 80 turbines, residents revolted. They launched a months-long campaign to pressure the company and county leaders to either force turbines further from their land or call off the project.”
A Setback: The Wichita Eagle also noted that the growing resistance comes after Kansas established its reputation as a major player in wind energy. No other state gets more of its electricity from wind than Kansas, at 36 percent. It also ranks among the top five states for total wind energy generation. It’s currently unclear if NextEra will abandon the project or work to challenge the vote.
Current Energy Mix: Kansas currently gets most of its energy from coal and natural gas, for a state with such immense potential for wind energy it’s a shame not to capitalize on the jobs and reduced energy costs that come with an expanded wind industry.
July 9, 2019 » Kansas, renewable energy, wind, wind energy