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Oct 17, 2008

Kansas Has Potential for Wind Jobs

By DUANE SCHRAG - Salina Journal, Fri, Oct 17

BELOIT ¬ -- Thousands of jobs will be created, and millions of dollars invested, as the United States starts to harness the enormous wind potential in this country.

The question is whether Kansas, whose wind potential is nearly the best in the country, wants to cash in on it.

"It's about who's going to get those jobs and who's going to meet this demand for energy," said Steve Gaw, of the Wind Coalition. "You all have so much potential to move forward if you want this to happen."

Gaw is with a group of experts with the American Wind Energy Association. The group has been on a statewide tour this week, promoting wind's potential. On Thursday, the group was at North Central Kansas Technical College in Beloit.

About 60 people -- from Nebraska, western Kansas and central Kansas -- attended the working lunch. Many small cities and counties (Dickinson County, for instance) were represented.

Two large wind farms located within an hour of Salina went online in the past year. Vestas, one of the world's leading manufacturers of wind turbines, has opened an office in Salina.

By every indication, wind is one of the "next big things." Two years ago, President Bush proposed that by 2030 the U.S. get 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources. A study by the federal Department of Energy looked at whether that goal could be achieved, and if so, how.

For one thing, there would be a lot of new turbines. Last year, 3,200 new turbines were erected nationwide; the study estimates that between now and 2030, upward of 10,000 new turbines will need to go up every year.

"It's not just steel towers," said Elizabeth Salerno, of AWEA. "It's not just Fiberglass blades."

Turbines, each with thousands of pieces, have complex gearboxes and sophisticated electronics.

"We're going to need a very broad range of skills to make these components," Salerno said. "We are not turning out enough math and science majors today to meet these needs."

Some surrounding states -- particularly Colorado and Iowa -- have landed thousands of wind industry manufacturing jobs in just the past two years.

Before 2006, Colorado had no wind manufacturing facilities. Now it has six, which created more then 2,700 jobs and required an investment of more than $550 million.

"The game is still on," Salerno said. "You can go out there and get those companies to come to your state."

Richard Underbakke, president of Cloud County Community College, told the audience that the associate degree program is red hot. A couple of years ago, it had one student; now it has 67; and by spring, the college forecasts it will have 100.

Community colleges and technical schools around the state have expressed an interest in developing cooperative programs, Underbakke said.

The federal study that assessed the implications of having renewables provide 20 percent of the nation's electricity found:

-Capital costs would increase by only 2 percent.

-Americans would spend $86 billion to $214 billion less on natural gas.

-Coal consumption would be reduced by 18 percent.

-Construction of 80,000 megawatts of coal-fired power plants would be avoided.

"You are right here in what could be the heart of the key to achieving energy independence," Gaw said. "Quite frankly, I think the country needs you all."

Reporter Duane Schrag can be reached at 822-1422 or by e-mail at dschrag@salina.com.


Comments

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Posted by Freelance Jobs on 09/18  at  11:06 AM

Hi,

It’s about who’s going to get those jobs and who’s going to meet this demand for energy,said Steve Gaw, of the Wind Coalition.You all have so much potential to move forward
if you want this to happen..

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Posted by Going Green on 11/09  at  07:24 AM

Wind job is the most prosperous job in Kansas, but it seems the local government doesn’t really manage and care about it. I wonder what will the government will do next?

Posted by Women's Clothing on 11/15  at  01:28 PM

What is wind jobs? A job regarding to windmill? Or wind generator? But I think London is the best windmill country.

Posted by Milan Hotels on 11/17  at  12:52 AM

Yes, Kansas is one of those cities that has potential to build many wind generators. We can start the project as soon as possible since the wind here is pretty strong and it’s one of the advantages for being in Kansas. From here, the current electricity can be channeled to other city as well.

Posted by Composite Doors on 11/17  at  09:24 AM

Wind power must be one of the most enviroemntal friendly ways of creating energy. But even so there are still many who do not like the look of huge windmills across the landscape.

I dont get it.  Windmills v powerstations? No content in my mind.

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Now that the energy crisis has become the most important issue, people are begin to search alternative for energy resource. I think wind is an efficient source of energy and that means we can build many wind

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Its nice to know that some people are working on the area of alternative energy. If we are committed to save earth the this sort of project is a must.

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What is wind job anyway? Is it a job using the wind? If yes, than that would be great. Wind is considered as alternative energy lately.

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Never thought that Kansas has such strong current of wind. Than it should be the perfect place to get wind energy.

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Wind farm is certainly a good idea especially at this time when natural oil is used up so rapidly.

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Gaw is with a group of experts with the American Wind Energy Association. The group has been on a statewide tour this week, promoting wind’s potential.

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Posted by Naturalpills on 01/18  at  04:00 PM

Wind jobs should be implemented in all the world, is safe and produce good energi!

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We are not turning out enough math and science majors today to meet these needs.

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We’re going to need a very broad range of skills to make these components.

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Each with thousands of pieces, have complex gearboxes and sophisticated electronics.

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Posted by Dog Trainer on 02/15  at  11:20 AM

It is very important to create more work places for people. Wind farms are high technology which can bring development in future!

Posted by IT Stuff on 02/15  at  11:21 AM

Wind farms are very important for a country. they produce quality bio enery!

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a very strategic is the eolien industry. this will develop in some contry, since they don’t have so much grow this industry!

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I totally agree with the new sistem. it’s more ecologic and does not produce so much problem to the environement.!

Posted by cash loans on 03/01  at  01:47 PM

Great idea. this is something that is not bad fot nature, and on the same time very useful!

Posted by tungsten wedding bands on 03/03  at  09:53 PM

Over 10,000 turbines per month sounds like alot, but it really isn’t. That’s 1,000 for 10 states! I really hope we start moving forward with this.

Posted by Twitter Adder on 03/07  at  12:16 PM

The turbines are a very important development in any country. First because it’s a bio energy that it’s being produce and second it can be produce a very large number of Kca in short time, if the turbines are put in a good place!

Posted by san francisco web design on 03/08  at  12:51 AM

I think that Texas would be a great state for this, too. Actually most of the midwest should be able to use wind energy quite well. We just recently moved to Missouri though (on the Kansas line) and think it’s great that this could be such the boom-start area for wind energy.

Posted by baby slings on 03/08  at  07:34 AM

Never been more positive with this. I like this working ideea sinve they started it!

Posted by how to write an article on 03/09  at  01:22 PM

How can bealive that building turbines for electric power will generate so much political confusion, to say so. I bealive that no side effect electricity it’s the best thing that can happent to us, as we speak. it produce benefic power for us, and no chimacal, and athomic reactions, nedeed!

Posted by trade schools on 03/09  at  02:24 PM

I just don’t understand people who still don’t think that getting our power naturally is important. I mean, if costs increase by 2% and the saving would be in the double and triple digit billions, what is there for a downside? Plus we’re helping maintain our environment.

Posted by ab belt on 03/10  at  11:29 PM

In a time when we are desperatley in need of jobs, you’d think that EVERYone would be pushing for this. Yet there are still so many that are fighting against the move forward to a greener world, which I can’t help but find mind-boggling.

Posted by Adult Sex toys on 03/13  at  05:06 AM

Turbines are very good on developing a great energetic strategy. When we think on atomic energetic industry, we think at the worst things, but this are very good!

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