GOV. SEBELIUS NAMES PARKINSON CO-CHAIR OF KANSAS ENERGY COUNCIL
BYLINE: US States News
DATELINE: MANHATTAN, Kan.
Kansas State University issued the following news release:
Kansas' potential to be a leader in renewable energy production is ready to be tapped, says Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
As part of that effort, today she announced Lt. Governor-elect Mark Parkinson will lead the administration's energy initiatives by serving as co-chair of the Kansas Energy Council.
"Kansas has outstanding potential to produce renewable energy, both from wind farms and from biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel. But the progress we've seen these past few years is only the beginning," Sebelius said.
"Energy will be a key focus of my second term, and Mark will lead our administration's efforts to promote renewable energy production and energy conservation," she continued. "I'm pleased with the work of the KEC under the leadership of Ken Frahm, and am encouraged Mark will take an active role in the group's continued efforts."
Parkinson said he looked forward to working with the Kansas Energy Council to expand renewable energy production.
"We really do have an opportunity to make Kansas a national leader in renewable energy, and the Energy Council has done great work in soliciting input from producers, consumers and Kansans on how we take advantage of that opportunity," Parkinson said.
Sebelius has also asked the Council to make biofuels production a top priority as it seeks to promote energy production and conservation in Kansas.
On October 26 Sebelius sent a letter to Frahm, chair of the KEC, asking the Council to make biofuels a top priority by creating a standing committee that will focus on ways to promote their production in Kansas.
"I can envision the time in Kansas when our agriculture industry is a national leader in both food and fuel production. By becoming a major producer of energy feedstocks we will provide the foundation for becoming a major biofuels producing state," Sebelius wrote.
Frahm has named Representative Carl Holmes as chair of the new committee, which will allow the state to bring its best leaders from the private sector, the administration and the Legislature together to collaborate on a vision that will guide Kansas into a new energy era.
The committee will be made up of current members of the KEC, as well as organizations such as the Kansas Bioscience Authority and the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation.
Contact: Nicole Corcoran, 785/368-8500.