NEW ENERGY WILL BOOST KANSAS JOBS

Report says Kansas counties could see thousands of new jobs from alternative energy business
January 9, 2009 (AP via Yahoo Finance)

“… Kansas…could potentially gain thousands of jobs from alternative energy business, according to a report from the Renewable Energy Policy Project.

“The findings were released Thursday in Wichita at a news conference announcing the formation of the Kansas Blue Green Alliance, a coalition of state labor, environmental and farm groups.

“The study said Kansas could create 11,500 jobs and draw $2 billion in investment in renewable energy…

“The report says Sedgwick County could gain more than 1,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in business making equipment for wind turbines and other alternative energy technologies.

“It estimates that Saline County could see as many as 2,300 jobs and $430 million in investments, with the most potential coming from solar energy business and the large Exide Technologies battery plant in Salina.

“…the report… looked at components used in making wind turbines, photovoltaic cell solar power plants, biomass plants and geothermal plants [and]…compared that to a list of Kansas companies that make similar products or use similar production techniques, with the connection being that they could easily convert their operations to make components of wind turbines or other alternative energy technologies…”