By John Celock
In a boon to the state’s growing wind industry, the Republican-controlled Kansas House of Representatives voted Wednesday down a move to repeal the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standards.
The vote followed a debate which focused on whether RPS, which mandates that 20 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources, has helped or hurt the state’s economy. The repeal, which was adopted earlier this week by the GOP-controlled state Senate, was backed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce; the Koch-brothers funded Americans for Prosperity and the American Legislative Exchange Council.
“We’ll be sending a message of don’t come to Kansas,” state Rep. Annie Kuether (D-Topeka) told her colleagues. “We won’t have clean air.”
The RPS standards were first adopted in 2009 as part of deal between then Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) and GOP lawmakers in order to site a new coal power plant in the state.
House Energy and Environment Committee Chairman Dennis Hedke (R-Wichita) said that the repeal was needed in order to take restrictions off of the energy industry and allow for the free market to reign. Hedke has long advocated against several sustainability measures in state government.
Hedke said that consumers are being hurt by mandates, saying that the cause costs to go up. He also stressed the support the RPS repeal plan has gotten from groups.
“With support from the Kansas Chamber, AFP and other entities who are studying this, it is appropriate for us to repeal those mandates and allow for the electricity industry be regulated by the free market,” Hedke said.
Opponents of the repeal focused on the growth that the wind industry has had in the state, along with the process being used to push the repeal. The Senate inserted the repeal in to a bill earlier this week, forcing the House to vote to adopt their legislation. Opponents noted that agreeing the Senate plan would not allow for a House committee to hold hearings on the measure and to give adequate discussion to the motion.
Rep. Scott Schwab (R-Olathe) fought back at the idea of government regulation and the free market, noting that the utilities industry is different from other industries since it is heavily regulated. He also noted that consumers are limited to one choice for utilities.
Opponents stressed how wind energy has consistently been ranked as a top growth industry for the state and can help grow the economy in the western part of the state.
“Kansas ranks third in the nation in wind energy potential. I truly believe that this is the future of the Kansas economy,” Rep. Steven Becker (R-Buhler) told his colleagues. “Just like other states have the oil and unique factors that drives the economy. We can have wind drive ours.”