|
|
|
The wide-open, windswept plains of Kansas are a major energy resource just now beginning to be tapped, and soon new transmission lines could harness some of that wind energy, bringing new jobs and a boost to the growing wind industry in the state.
“Kansas is a very strong state for wind energy,” said Diana Coggin, a project development manager from Clean Line Energy Partners, the company looking to build the transmission lines. “They’re a leader in the country.”
At its meeting Monday, the Board of Harvey County Commissioners heard a presentation from the Houston-based company, which is seeking to develop transmission lines delivering renewable energy from the United States’ windiest areas to communities and cities with a strong demand for clean, reliable energy.
Their proposed Grain Belt Express Clean Line would connect wind energy resources in southwest Kansas to the St. Louis area.
“It’s a major, major project,” said John Waltner, county administrator.
“It’s low-cost, renewable energy,” Coggin said. “... We’re really excited about what this project will offer.”
Project facts
The proposed Grain Belt Express Clean Line will be about 500 miles long.
The project would cost an estimated $1.7 billion and could create more than 5,000 temporary construction jobs, and more than 500 permanent operations jobs. The project also could generate $7 billion in new wind farm investments and benefit the environment through a carbon dioxide pollution reduction of 12 million tons — equal to taking 1.7 million cars off the road each year.
Although it’s not certain whether the Grain Belt Express would pass through Harvey County, the company currently is in the process of reaching out to communities and researching the best possible route for the transmission lines.
“We’re really interested in building relationships with various counties and businesses,” Coggin said. “... We really, really want to create jobs locally.”
She said Kansas has more than enough wind energy, and there is great potential for it to export this resource to other areas.
Harvey County representatives said this is an exciting project that could tie in well with developments at Kansas Logistics Park.
“We’re in an ideal location for anything to do with wind energy,” county commissioner Marge Roberson said.
The wide-open, windswept plains of Kansas are a major energy resource just now beginning to be tapped, and soon new transmission lines could harness some of that wind energy, bringing new jobs and a boost to the growing wind industry in the state.
“Kansas is a very strong state for wind energy,” said Diana Coggin, a project development manager from Clean Line Energy Partners, the company looking to build the transmission lines. “They’re a leader in the country.”
At its meeting Monday, the Board of Harvey County Commissioners heard a presentation from the Houston-based company, which is seeking to develop transmission lines delivering renewable energy from the United States’ windiest areas to communities and cities with a strong demand for clean, reliable energy.
Their proposed Grain Belt Express Clean Line would connect wind energy resources in southwest Kansas to the St. Louis area.
“It’s a major, major project,” said John Waltner, county administrator.
“It’s low-cost, renewable energy,” Coggin said. “... We’re really excited about what this project will offer.”
Project facts
The proposed Grain Belt Express Clean Line will be about 500 miles long.
The project would cost an estimated $1.7 billion and could create more than 5,000 temporary construction jobs, and more than 500 permanent operations jobs. The project also could generate $7 billion in new wind farm investments and benefit the environment through a carbon dioxide pollution reduction of 12 million tons — equal to taking 1.7 million cars off the road each year.
Although it’s not certain whether the Grain Belt Express would pass through Harvey County, the company currently is in the process of reaching out to communities and researching the best possible route for the transmission lines.
“We’re really interested in building relationships with various counties and businesses,” Coggin said. “... We really, really want to create jobs locally.”
She said Kansas has more than enough wind energy, and there is great potential for it to export this resource to other areas.
Harvey County representatives said this is an exciting project that could tie in well with developments at Kansas Logistics Park.
“We’re in an ideal location for anything to do with wind energy,” county commissioner Marge Roberson said.
