Over 40 people from industry, manufacturing, non-profit advocates, landowner coalitions, universities, chambers of commerce, citizens and the Department of Commerce came together to learn more about transmission, manufacturing, wind project development in Kansas, the federal RES and ACES.
During small group discussions were generated for both challenges and opportunities for Kansas wind advocates.
Challenges:

• No unified voice for wind advocates
• Small wind and commercial wind have different policy issues
• Lots of mis-information due to complicated energy issues
• Rising costs of energy (and all goods) make consumers nervous about new energy sources
• Perception of wind development still closely aligned with environmental concerns
• Lack of transmission infrastructure
• Lack of understanding various tax credits (Production Tax Credit or Investment Tax Credit)
• Siting, planning and cost recovery are all difficult for parties to tackle
• Where does community wind fit? (can an RES include a community wind component)?

Key Opportunities:

• How can we EXPORT as much as we can?
• How can Kansas get its share of the clean energy export business
• A vote against an RES is a vote against rural economic development
• A vote against an RES is a vote against $20 million each year to Kansas landowners by 2020...and another 20 million each year to counties that host turbines.

How do we get there?

• Suggestion: 5-6 key bullet points repeated from all partners in the state. Simple facts with a focus on export and jobs
• A website with resources and up to date information - IN PROGRESS - send your friends and colleagues to www.renewkansas.org
• Someone needs to "take the leadership role"

Very soon, Tuesday's presentations will be on www.renewkansas.org.