Kansas ranks second in the country for wind energy production, according to the annual market report from the American Wind Energy Association.
The report lists Kansas’ production as a share of total electricity generation, which is 41.4 percent. The report says Kansas is now fourth nationally in installed wind capacity at over 6,100 megawatts; fifth nationally in the number of wind turbines at over 3,100 and has invested over $11 billion in capital investment in wind projects.
Governor Laura Kelly says wind energy is now the state’s largest source of electricity for residents.
Evergy, meanwhile, says it has passed the 65 million megawatt landmark for producing wind electricity. Evergy, which either owns or buys electricity from over 20 wind farms, says it has increased its generation from renewable energy sources by more than 12.5 times while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 45 percent since 2005. Evergy plans to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 and add another 660 megawatts of wind to its portfolio.
The report comes as work is nearing an end at the Reading Wind Facility in east Lyon and west Osage counties as a partnership between RES Americas, Southern Power and Royal Caribbean. Once online, the wind farm will generate 200 megawatts of electricity. The EDP Renewables wind energy facility outside Waverly has been producing close to 200 megawatts of wind energy since 2016.
