By OLGA KHAKOVA
Climate and Energy Project
CEP’s Clean Energy Business Council assisted with the Kansas Department of Commerce’s booth at the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) WindPower annual conference in Anaheim, Calif.. May 22-25.
As attendees stopped by the booth to admire the map of Kansas wind farms, we were proud to share that Kansas wind comprises 29.6% of state’s energy generation, leading the nation in new wind energy added in 2016. We had engaging discussions about what it would take to keep the momentum going with companies who are exploring expansion in the state.
Transmission capacity was a concern for quite a few businesses ready to further their renewable investments in the Midwest. Thankfully, our CEBC Founding Member – Clean Line Energy Partners is working hard to overcome that barrier.
One of my favorite sessions concentrated on corporate wind procurement. Panelists from EDF Renewable Energy, General Motors, Microsoft, Invenergy and many more discussed why businesses are choosing to invest in renewable energy and the creative ways they procure clean energy.
Microsoft’s Kansas Bloom Wind project was recognized as the “North American Wind Deal of the Year.”
What we heard:
- Corporate buyers are hungry for renewable energy
- Wind developers are eager to build new projects
- States with welcoming legislative and regulatory environments will be winners in the advanced energy economy!
Olga Khakova is Program Director of the Hutchinson-based Climate + Energy Project, a non-partisan 501c(3) organization working to reduce emissions through greater energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy.