Council delivers recommendations to governor following natural gas summit

LAWRENCE -- More than 60 recommendations aimed at easing the impact of rising national gas prices and ensuring adequate supplies have been submitted to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius by the state Energy Resources Coordination Council.

The 13-member council, chaired by Lee Allison, director of the Kansas Geological Survey, based at the University of Kansas, was charged by the governor to study and report on the state's energy situation. The recommendations were developed following an October summit the council organized in Topeka.

Recommendations for immediate action involve increased funding and activity under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federal program that helps homeowners undertake weatherization projects.

Other, more long-term recommendations from the summit include increasing energy education efforts, consolidating and funding energy planning in Kansas, changing tax law, encouraging energy conservation and efficiency, changing oil and gas regulations, encouraging cooperation between state energy-assistance programs and agencies, changing utility rate structures, and encouraging production from the Hugoton natural gas field.

Copies of the summit's recommendations are available on the council's Web site.

"Tight supplies of natural gas are expected to continue for much of the coming decade, which will tend to keep prices high," said Allison. "Resolving these issues will involve simultaneous efforts to increase supplies, reduce demand and encourage reliance on alternative energy sources."

The daylong summit was held at Sebelius' request and drew approximately 150 energy experts, who collaborated on the recommendations.

The Energy Council also will use these recommendations in preparing its annual energy plan, to be presented to the governor, the Kansas Corporation Commission and the Legislature in January.