News2/12/2009 Kansas Needs More Base Load Power to Meet Rising Energy Demands
Kansas Needs More Base Load Power to Meet Rising Energy Demands
Gov. Sebelius continues to say that Kansas has adequate resources to meet growing energy demand, a statement based on data from the Kansas Energy Council (KEC). This assertion is erroneous and incredibly simplistic because Gov. Sebelius is totaling the capacity of all Kansas generation and comparing it to projected growth.
She is not taking into consideration the type of generation, age and location of the generation fleet, location of growing loads and, most importantly, the ownership of the generating resources. An analogous example is telling a trucking company that it shouldn’t purchase another semi-truck to haul loads because other businesses in the state have an ample supply of Ford Pintos.
The governor’s energy bill includes a mandate that new state-owned vehicles should be more efficient and get increased gas mileage. This same concept applies to electric generation. If we build generating facilities with the newest technology, we’ll achieve the equivalent of better gas mileage and fewer emissions from our generation fleet, also.
Gov. Sebelius’ statement also reveals a lack of understanding about the complex construction cycles for utility scale projects, especially those involving base load resources. An in-depth look at the KEC data shows that we actually have limited time to bring additional base load resources into service.
Utilities face permitting uncertainties, legal challenges regardless of fuel choice, global demand for commodities and special equipment for base load resources, and a 54-month year construction schedule for these large projects. When construction schedules include these factors, Kansas utilities must begin building base load resources soon in order to provide additional base resources by the middle of the next decade when these resources will be critically needed.
The governor continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding regarding the scale and complexities of the energy challenges facing the state and the nation by focusing only on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and a new green economy. While these programs are certainly valid aspects of a balanced energy policy, they do not replace the need for additional base load resources.
Leadership efforts for a balanced energy policy, whether at the state or national level, need to evaluate the legitimate commercial availability of technology, evaluate the potential of energy production from renewable resources, evaluate estimates of energy savings from even the most aggressive energy efficiency programs, and consider the physical realities of how the U.S. electric grid operates. Grid stability, service reliability, and, yes, even price are valid considerations for electric consumers.
Kansans have economical electric rates because of wise choices made by Kansas utilities decades ago to build, operate and maintain coal-fired power plants. The rest of the nation benefits from this economical energy through affordable agricultural products, aircraft, tires and numerous other commodities and services that Kansans produce.
An energy plan that will meet our future demand for electricity entails not only developing renewable resources and becoming energy efficient, but also building and operating a diverse fleet of wind, natural gas and coal resources in a way that meets or exceeds all environmental regulations and continues to provide an essential service to all Kansas electric consumers without breaking the bank.
Kyle Nelson is the Senior Vice President, COO for Sunflower Electric.
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