News Release

August 5, 2008

KCC Announces 9th Annual Kansas Energy Conference -
Wind & Renewable Energy

Climate change and renewable energy, particularly wind, will be the focal point of the 9th annual Kansas Wind & Renewable Energy Conference scheduled for Sept 23-24, according to Jim Ploger, conference coordinator with the Kansas Corporation Commission Energy Programs.

With over 1,000 megawatts (MW) of wind generation capacity expected to be online by the end of 2008, Kansas will join an elite group of states with renewable energy as a significant part of their electric generation portfolio.

With the U.S. Department of Energy having recently stated the feasibility of wind power supplying 20% of U.S. electricity by 2030, the newly elected President and Board of Directors of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) have a clear objective to pursue.

"We have just begun to see wind power's potential to create economic benefits and fight global warming,” said AWEA President Jim Walker, Vice Chairman of the Board of enXco, Inc. "Wind power offers a promise of economic opportunity and jobs for hundreds of thousands of people, and of a cleaner, cooler planet for our children and grandchildren. We will work hard in pursuit of that vision and in pursuit of the investment and policies that are needed to make it happen.”

If the 20% wind vision is achieved, Walker added, electric industry emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the leading greenhouse gas, would be reduced by 25% from projected levels—equivalent to taking 140 million vehicles off the road: "Laying the foundation for the 20% vision is job one.”

Nationally known climate change expert, Dr. James Hansen of the National Aeronautic & Space Administration's Goddard Institute of Space Studies, will keynote the conference on Sept. 23.

Two Kansas professors, Dr. Johannes Feddema of the University of Kansas and Dr. Ed Rice of Kansas State University, will participate in a roundtable discussion on the climate change issue. Both men serve on the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC).

The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.

Last December, the IPCC was one of the recipients of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its work on climate and environmental issues.

In a dozen breakout sessions during the two-day conference, attendees will be able to hear the latest information about a variety of renewable energy and energy efficiency topics – including wind, solar, biofuels, energy efficiency, education, and policy issues, Ploger said.

The 2008 Governor's Energy Achievement Recognition Awards will be presented at the conference. These awards recognize leadership and accomplishment in progressive Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Education, and Energy Leadership activities and programs. Nomination forms and directions are available on the below website.

Detailed program and registration information is available online at: http://kcc.ks.gov/energy/kwrec_08/.