One of the ways the Kansas Corporation Commission takes advantage of this and makes the state attractive to corporate site selectors is its Renewable Energy Rider Tariff. The program allows commercial and industrial customers to offset some or all of their energy usage through a renewable resource. This program is designed to provide large customers with a path toward their sustainability goals in renewable energy.
Kansas’ largest electric utility, Evergy, uses the tariff as part of its Renewables Direct program. Evergy meets the electricity needs of about half the homes and businesses it serves with emission-free sources, including wind energy.
“Renewable energy is good for the environment and the Kansas economy,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I commend Evergy for helping to solidify Kansas’ position as a regional and national leader in the development and expansion of wind power.”
Renewables Direct provides long-term price stability and competitive pricing for local renewable energy to qualifying businesses, agencies and commercial customers. As new customers enroll in the program, Evergy expands its renewable energy sources to serve them and help them meet their sustainability goals.
“Renewables Direct is a great tool to attract new businesses to our area and to meet the needs of current customers using our area’s abundant wind energy. It helps customers realize their sustainability goals while providing long term price stability,” said Jeff Martin, Evergy vice president of community and customer operations. “Direct association with wind farms is more accessible to a variety of customers through Renewables Direct and partnerships with Evergy.”
Secretary of Commerce David Toland said: “This is an exciting development in wind energy, and it’s especially exciting to see this program in Kansas. Not only is wind energy production good for the environment, it’s a major investment for future businesses in our state. Wind energy employs thousands of Kansans and fuels our state’s economy. I look forward to the important benefits Renewables Direct will bring for the businesses and people of our state.”
Nevada Leads Nation In Solar Jobs
“Nevada is already a leader in renewable energy, leading the nation in solar jobs, megawatts installed, and total number of installations,” Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE) Director David Bobzien said. “The state continues to bring stakeholders to the table to ensure we are protecting our environment, combatting climate change and creating good-paying union jobs for our clean energy economy.”
In April 2022, the state moved to increase its renewable energy capacity by approving partial sales and use tax and partial property tax abatements, under the GOE’s Renewable Energy Tax Abatement (RETA) Program, for five utility projects. The five projects are expected to add 1,166 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to Nevada’s existing capacity of just under 5,000 megawatts.
“The large investments this tax abatement program brings into the state is an investment in both our clean energy future and more jobs for more Nevadans,” said Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak.
The five companies include: Dry Lake Solar, Gemini Solar, Citadel Solar, Boulder Flats Solar, and North Valley Power Plant. In addition, two previously approved projects began construction in 2021: Fish Springs Solar and Yellow Pine Solar and one additional project was approved, Arrow Canyon Solar.
