Because wind generation dies when the wind dies, utilities typically estimate that only 20 percent of their power demand can be supplied by wind.
Kansas has just entered the top 10 for wind generation, with slightly more than 1,000 megawatts of capacity, but it has the potential to be third with thousands more megawatts, according to studies.
The untapped potential, plus the political demand for up to 20 percent of the nation's energy supply to be renewable, is expected to lead to new wind farms in western Kansas and the western sides of other Plains states over the next decade. That growth, however, has been temporarily shut off by the credit crunch.
Our newest export>
Much of that power will be exported out of Kansas to other states in the region.
The area covered by the Southwest Power Pool has the potential for more than 70,000 megawatts of wind potential, Huslig said.
"We can't consume it, so we'd have to export it to other parts of the country," he said.
The power would go to the other utilities of the Southwest Power Pool, and beyond.
The electricity will displace existing electricity generated in those markets and send it farther east. Ultimately, the wind power produced in western Kansas will be credited with reducing carbon emissions on the East Coast.
The cost of the line is $600 million to $800 million, but Harrison and Huslig said they will seek approval to spread the cost over the ratepayers of the entire Southwest Power Pool, rather than just those in Kansas.
That includes Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and parts of Missouri, Mississippi, Texas and New Mexico.
Harrison said that Westar ratepayers would be liable for 12 percent of the cost.
The benefit for Kansas ratepayers is that generating and then transferring the excess wind energy out of the Southwest Power Pool is almost like exporting any other product.
The power will be sought by other regions who have to meet mandated minimums for alternative energy, said Huslig.
Those sales would serve to reduce rates for Kansas ratepayers.
So, Huslig said, Kansas could see more wind farms, more wind farm manufacturing plants and lower rates in the future.
But it depends on getting the power lines, say the utilities.
"Kansas will not be able to develop its wind potential without this, period," Harrison said.
Reach Dan Voorhis at 316-268-6577 or dvoorhis@wichitaeagle.com.
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