Drill, baby, drill — or coal? Natural gas — or the Google Plan? The options for the United States’ energy future have crept into the country’s collective consciousness during the recent increase in crude oil and gas prices. The only question is which options are actually viable.
In recent months, advertisements from oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens have touted a new plan for America’s energy future. Rather than focusing on oil and other fossil fuels, Pickens’ plan is centered on the further development of wind energy. The plan has sparked debate and already received support from more than 1 million people and some local politicians.
The centerpiece of the Pickens plan is building new wind-generation facilities that will produce 20 percent of the nation’s electricity and allow natural gas to be used as a transportation fuel.
A 2005 study from Stanford University is cited on the plan’s Web site. The study found there is more than enough wind energy to satisfy the world’s energy needs.
IN KANSAS
According to a study by the American Wind Energy Association, Kansas is ranked No. 3 on a list of the top 20 states for wind energy potential. Ruth Douglas Miller, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, said Kansas would pass 1,000 installed megawatts before the end of 2008.
“Kansas has the resources to install double that capacity of wind generation but does not yet have the transmission network to move it,” she said in an e-mail interview. “As a general (pessimistic) rule of thumb, multiply installed capacity by about one-third to get generation capacity, to account for the intermittency of wind. So the state is capable of generating 5,300-6,400 [megawatts] of electricity from wind easily.”
Miller has an extensive background with wind energy. She is leading a wind research class during the fall semester and will offer a lecture and design course on wind- and solar-energy systems in fall 2009.
She is also head of the Wind Applications Center. The center is devoted to educating electrical engineers and informing the people of Kansas about wind energy. The center operates a wind turbine near the fire station at Kimball and Denison avenues.
K-State is talking with Westar Energy representatives about possibly donating a 700-kilowatt turbine, Ben Champion, K-State director of sustainability, said.
THE PLAN
As part of the Pickens Plan, natural gas would be used to power a new line of fleet vehicles to reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil by 30 percent in 10 years. Petroleum accounts for 96 percent of the energy consumed in the transportation sector, according to an Energy Information Administration study. Natural gas contributes 17 percent of the electrical power sector.
To allow for natural gas to be shifted to the transportation sector, Pickens calls for wind energy to replace natural gas in the electricity sector.
However, Champion said these numbers do not match.
“Natural gas tends to be used for peak power electricity production,” he said. “Wind energy doesn’t produce electricity on demand.
“There’s a mismatch between what wind energy can provide and what natural gas can provide for the electricity sector, which means it’s unlikely we can completely offset our natural gas use with wind energy in the electricity sector.”
Champion said the economics of the transportation portion of Pickens’ proposal raise many questions.
“Either we buy new cars or new engines for our cars that operate off of natural gas,” he said, “and we also we invest in fuel stations, refineries and that sort of thing. That would be an immensely expensive proposition, and Pickens isn’t proposing to pay for that himself.”
FURTHER WORK
These questions have not diminished widespread support of the Pickens Plan. The pledge, a call for the new president and Congress to enact a new energy independence plan, available at pickensplan.com, has been signed by more than 1 million people.
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius recently endorsed the plan, and according to a Sept. 22 Topeka Capital-Journal article, referred to the current oil-purchasing process as one that “undermines our national security.”
According to data available from the United Nations Council on Trade and Development, 40 percent of the world’s natural gas reserves are in the Middle East. Only 8 percent are in North America.
Though the plan falls short of expectations, Champion does find room for praise of Pickens.
Winds of change
Local researchers consider possible effects of Pickens Plan in Kansas
Published: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Updated: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
 "Photo: Matt Binter")
Matt Binter
There is a wind energy tower in Manhattan by the fire station at Kimball and Denison avenues.
To sweep the clouds away
Waiting for the rainbows end
To cast its gold your way
Countless ways
You pass the daysWaiting for someone to call
And turn your world around
Looking for an answer to
The question you have found
Looking for
An open doorYou dont get something for nothing
You dont get freedom for free
You wont get wise
With the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dreams might beWhat you own is your own kingdom
What you do is your own glory
What you love is your own power
What you live is your own story
In your head is the answer
Let it guide you along
Let your heart be the anchor
And the beat of your own songRush: 2112Burn Coal: Stay Warm
Just say no to the pipe dreams of autarkyAutarky: economic independence as a national policy As to the leading question of your poll, why not let a geniunely free market determine issue of relative costs and benefits? Answer, politicians would have to surrender power.