Study documents wind regulations across all Kansas counties, can help guide energy policies nationwide – KU News

Analysis of Kansas Wind Energy Regulations and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Advancing SDG 7 through Regulatory Clarity

A comprehensive analysis of wind energy regulations across all 105 counties in Kansas reveals a complex and fragmented policy landscape. This report, based on research from the University of Kansas, examines the varying county-level approaches to wind development. The findings are contextualized within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). The creation of the Kansas Energy Transition Atlas, a GIS-powered repository of this regulatory data, serves as a critical tool for policymakers, developers, and communities to advance the state’s transition to renewable energy sources, directly supporting the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Key Findings on the Regulatory Landscape

The study identified a “patchwork quilt” of regulations, indicating a tumultuous but evolving phase of wind energy development. This varied approach directly impacts the state’s ability to uniformly contribute to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by facilitating or hindering the adoption of clean energy technologies.

• Approximately 70% of Kansas counties have established some form of wind energy regulation.
• Of those with regulations, between one-fourth and one-third have implemented “blocking” policies designed to restrict or prevent wind farm development.
• Roughly 40% of the state’s counties maintain “enabling” regulations that accommodate or encourage wind projects, aligning with the objectives of SDG 7.
• A significant number of counties, particularly in the far western and northwestern regions, have no specific regulations in place.

Factors Influencing Policy and SDG Alignment

The research identified several socio-economic and geographic factors that correlate with the adoption of specific regulatory types. These correlations highlight the interplay between economic development, community planning, and environmental conservation as outlined in multiple SDGs.

1. Economic and Community Development (SDG 8 & SDG 11): Counties with economies heavily reliant on agriculture were more likely to have enabling regulations, viewing wind energy as a compatible land use and an opportunity for economic diversification. This supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Conversely, suburbanizing counties and those with higher property values were more prone to enacting blocking regulations, reflecting land-use conflicts relevant to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
2. Environmental Conservation (SDG 15): Moratoriums on development were observed in specific regions for distinct reasons. In the Flint Hills, moratoriums are in place to support SDG 15 (Life on Land) by preserving a unique and revered ecosystem. In the I-135 corridor, moratoriums reflect planning challenges in more densely populated areas.
3. Non-Predictive Factors: Notably, factors such as county voting patterns, existing fossil fuel production, and even the local wind energy potential did not reliably predict the type of regulations enacted.

Future Outlook: Supporting Sustainable Infrastructure and Partnerships

The research and the associated Energy Transition Atlas provide a foundational resource for guiding future energy decisions, not only in Kansas but across the Plains region. The expansion of this research to include solar energy and regulations in other states is critical for building sustainable infrastructure and fostering collaboration.

• Infrastructure for the Future (SDG 9): As energy demands increase with the rise of technologies like artificial intelligence and data centers, a clear and efficient regulatory pathway for renewable energy is essential for developing the resilient and sustainable infrastructure required by SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
• Informed Governance and Collaboration (SDG 17): The atlas serves as a tool to combat disinformation and promote evidence-based policymaking. By allowing counties to learn from the approaches of their neighbors, it fosters the knowledge sharing and partnerships central to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), thereby helping to create a more coherent and effective strategy for a statewide clean energy transition.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The entire article focuses on wind energy, a key source of clean and renewable power. It discusses Kansas’s high potential for wind energy, the development of wind facilities, and the regulatory landscape governing this clean energy source.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article mentions that “Most Kansas counties are realizing that this is an economic improvement opportunity,” linking the development of wind energy to local economic growth and diversification, especially in agricultural areas.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The discussion revolves around the infrastructure required for wind energy, such as turbines and transmission lines. The creation of the Kansas Energy Transition Atlas is an innovation that supports the planning and development of this sustainable infrastructure.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article analyzes how different counties use zoning regulations and development agreements to manage wind energy projects. This relates directly to sustainable land-use planning and managing development in rural and suburbanizing communities.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  By focusing on the transition to wind energy, the article implicitly addresses climate action. Shifting to renewable energy sources like wind is a fundamental strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article explicitly mentions that the Flint Hills region has moratoriums on wind development for “conservation purposes of preserving a revered ecosystem,” directly connecting energy policy with the protection of terrestrial ecosystems.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The research itself is a collaboration among multiple universities (KU, Arizona State, University of Minnesota, Barry University). The resulting Kansas Energy Transition Atlas is a tool designed to be used by a partnership of stakeholders, including elected officials, developers, and landowners, to make informed decisions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
  • Target 7.2: “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” The article’s focus on facilitating wind development through better regulation and information directly supports increasing the share of renewable energy.
  • Target 7.a: “By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.” The research and the creation of the Atlas serve as a mechanism to facilitate access to information and guide investment in wind energy infrastructure.
• Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):
  • Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.” The article discusses the development of wind turbines and transmission lines as key infrastructure for a sustainable energy future.
• Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
  • Target 11.3: “By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.” The study of county-level zoning, regulations, and policy approaches is central to sustainable settlement planning and management.
  • Target 11.a: “Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.” The analysis of differing regulations between rural, agricultural counties and suburbanizing areas highlights the need for better regional planning.
• Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
  • Target 15.1: “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…” The mention of moratoriums in the Flint Hills to preserve the ecosystem is a direct action toward this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of counties with wind energy regulations: The article states that “about 70% of counties have some sort of regulations.” This can be used as an indicator for progress in local governance and planning for renewable energy (relevant to Target 11.3).
• Classification of county regulations: The research classifies regulations as “enabling,” “blocking,” or moratoriums. The proportion of counties with “enabling” regulations (about 40%) can measure the policy environment’s conduciveness to renewable energy development (relevant to Target 7.2).
• Number of wind turbines: The article mentions that the Atlas contains information on “the number of turbines in place.” This is a direct indicator of the installed capacity of renewable energy infrastructure (relevant to Targets 7.2 and 9.1).
• Presence of transmission lines: The Atlas also includes data on transmission lines, which is a crucial indicator of the infrastructure’s capacity to support and distribute clean energy (relevant to Target 9.1).
• Area under conservation moratoriums: The identification of regions like the Flint Hills with moratoriums for conservation purposes serves as an indicator of how land use planning balances energy development with ecosystem preservation (relevant to Target 15.1).

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: news.ku.edu