It’s great to see Kansas breaking the logjam that had stymied so many recent efforts to develop various energy resources in the state.

Significant credit for advances that have occurred in the last several weeks goes to Gov. Mark Parkinson, who has shown an ability to barter deals and get the state’s energy efforts moving again.

At the close of the legislative session, Parkinson was able to negotiate an agreement that would allow the construction of a new coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas in exchange for a renewable energy bill that is expected to open the door to businesses interested in pursuing alternative energy projects in the state. As if on cue, at almost the same time that deal was reached, the German-owned Siemens company announced plans to locate a new 30,000-square-foot wind turbine plant in Hutchinson.

This week, the governor’s office announced a settlement in a conflict that was holding up development of a major electrical transmission line that is desperately needed to move wind-generated power from western Kansas to customers in the south and east. Two companies were seeking approval from the Kansas Corporation Commission to build the line and the conflict seemed headed toward litigation that could have stalled the project indefinitely.

However, with the help of KCC staff, an agreement was worked out to let each company build about half of the 200-mile ultra-high-voltage line from Wichita to near Dodge City. The two lines will meet in Medicine Lodge where a line will head south and hook into another high-voltage line in Oklahoma. It’s an $800 million investment in the state’s energy portfolio.

Perhaps some of this same progress could have been achieved if Kathleen Sebelius were still governor, but a combination of personalities and politics often seemed to get in the way. The fact that Parkinson already has announced that he doesn’t plan to seek further political office may have made him more able to take a pragmatic approach that set the stage for compromises on key energy issues.

As lieutenant governor, Parkinson gave considerable time and attention to the state’s energy future. His ability to push those efforts forward as governor will benefit Kansas for years to come.