How’s Kansas doing in promoting and implementing energy efficiency in the state?
Not very well, and the situation is getting worse, according to recent state rankings by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Kansas was ranked 39th in the country in 2009 in energy efficiency, down from 38th in 2008 and 34th in 2006. The state was tied with Oklahoma, but ranked better than neighbors Nebraska (47) and Missouri (41).
The rankings are determined by examining six energy efficiency policy areas at the state level: Utility sector, transportation, building codes, heat and power, government initiatives and appliance standards.
Abbie Hodgson, director of communications for the Kansas Corporation Commission, which works on energy policy in Kansas, said she was surprised by Kansas’ low ranking. Development of energy efficient policies makes economic sense, and should be an important goal for Kansas, she said.
“Energy efficiency should always be a priority because the cheapest energy is energy that is not used in the first place,” said Hodgson.
Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, said that while he would like to see Kansas ranked higher nationally, changes to energy policy – particularly those that impose energy surcharges on consumers – pose philosophical and economic problems.
“People don’t like to be told what to do. How far should government go to make you reduce your energy consumption?” said Sloan.
He favors incentive-based programs that encourage consumers and businesses to become more energy efficient. But with state budget problems and cuts to education and social services, he said, Kansas needs to prioritize.
“We’re pretty limited in today’s economy,” he said.
But Kansas will be receiving help in improving energy efficiency from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, said Hodgson, including $37 million to establish the Efficiency Kansas loan program, designed to assist Kansans in making energy efficient upgrades to their homes.
For more information about the state rankings, www.aceee.org.
Comments
gsxr600 4 years, 5 months ago
Just because there is a production plant in a country outside the US doesn't mean there is no demand in the US. Most of the clothes we wear weren't produced anywhere close to the US however last time I checked there was a demand for clothing here.
BlessedSap 4 years, 5 months ago
If we were all investment bankers we could ride our bikes to our downtown offices from our downtown penthouses. Then we could feel morally superior to those we are stealing from because; look at the carbon they consume.
SettingTheRecordStraight 4 years, 5 months ago
So if we inverted the rankings, Kansas would place a respectable 12th in the government-needs-to-stay-the-hell-out-of-our-lives assessment.
Bruce Bertsch 4 years, 5 months ago
One man's government interference is another man's incentive. The largest maker of solar energy products in the world is headquartered in the US. They have no plants in the US because there is no demand. The plants are in Germany, France and yes, China. Energy efficiency and reduction in the use of fossil fuels makes economic sense for everyone in the long term.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 4 years, 5 months ago
“We’re pretty limited in today’s economy,” he said.
But one of the main reasons we have today's economy is because of energy inefficiency, and stupid energy policies.
devobrun 4 years, 5 months ago
Make sure you understand that energy efficiency policy is not confused with energy efficiency.
This is an article about how much government interference exists in the state. Does that mean that we are energy inefficient? Nope.
"People don’t like to be told what to do. How far should government go to make you reduce your energy consumption?” said Sloan.
And that is the salient feature of the article.
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