The Journal-World asks the question, “What is the state’s strategy for pumping new life back into western Kansas?” (“Recipe for disaster'” May 29), and calls for a bold solution rather than more talk.

Bold solutions may well be what are called for, but they should not be taken in haste or simply involve spending large sums of money. Let me share examples of positive changes that augur well for the future of western Kansas, in water and energy.

The same day that the Journal-World raised its question about the region, the Hays Daily News editorialized that Gov. Sebelius’ brokering a deal to end a “small war” between state agencies and the city over water was a remarkable event. The paper lauded not only the specifics of the agreement to secure long-term water resources for the area but also improvements in process and attitude changes in state government, concluding, “it does seem like a new day.” Getting state agencies to work together and with local government is neither flashy nor simple, and this success required lots of discussion. But the end results were well worth the effort.

In addition, Kansas oil and gas production are declining, in the long term. At the same time, there are great opportunities in an era of $50 per barrel oil. The state and the industry have worked with Kansas University to assess the vast Hugoton natural gas field in southwest Kansas, and have found bypassed zones and untapped pockets of natural gas. These areas provide substantial opportunities to tap the full extent of this resource and to keep gas flowing for many years to come.

On the oil side, a state-industry-federal partnership, also run by KU, is experimenting in using liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) to strip the remaining oil from rock formations, which would restore inactive wells back into production. If successful, this process could mean extending the life of old oilfields by 30 years, adding hundreds of millions of barrels of production in western Kansas, and generating tens of billions of dollars to the local and state economies.

One of the new economic promises being held out to western Kansas is the harvesting of the region’s great wind energy resources. Governor Sebelius signed laws that will expedite construction of new electric transmission lines and provide for building these lines for economic reasons, in addition to reliability and local customer demand needs.

The Kansas Energy Council is also evaluating the potential for smaller “community wind energy” projects with strong local ownership and management to meet more specific needs. These facilities take advantage of excess capacity on existing transmission lines, but more analysis is needed to deploy them in appropriate areas of Kansas.

Overall, Kansas is taking many small and medium-sized steps to enhance the economy and offer a robust vision for the future for western Kansas.

They may not be bold and flashy, and may require more talking and study, but taken together they will make a real difference for the state.