Report says Kansas importing more than half its energy from other states

LAWRENCE -- As the United States pays increasing attention to energy issues -- from high gasoline prices to blackouts -- Kansas is importing more of its energy from out of state, according to a new publication from the state's Energy Resources Coordination Council and the Kansas Geological Survey, based at the University of Kansas.

The report, the 2003 Kansas Energy Abstract, provides data about the state's energy production and consumption, and it focuses on such energy resources as coal, oil and natural gas and on renewable resources, such as wind generation.

Data in the report show that Kansas imports about 55 percent of its energy from outside the state. In 1997, Kansas went from a net energy exporter to a net energy importer, in part because of declining oil and natural gas production, and in part because of the importation of coal to produce electricity.

Kansas energy production peaked in 1967 and since has been in decline, primarily due to decreased production from the state's aging oil and gas fields. At the same time, energy consumption has nearly doubled, from just over 600 trillion British thermal units in 1960 to nearly 1100 trillion BTUs in 2000.

The abstract shows that Kansas consumes about five times more electricity than it did 40 years ago. Much of that electricity is generated from coal imported from Wyoming. At the same time, the state's coal production continues to decline, to just over 200,000 tons in the year 2000.

Kansas ranks eighth among the states in both oil and natural gas production. Oil production in 2001 was 34 million barrels, about a third of what it was in 1960. Natural gas production was about 308 billion cubic feet in 2002, about half of the state's 1960 production, largely because of declines from the enormous Hugoton natural gas field in southwestern Kansas.

Renewable energy production is increasing in the state, primarily in the form of wind generation and ethanol, though they represent less than 1 percent of the state's total energy production.

The abstract was compiled by Liz Brosius of the Kansas Geological Survey and Scott White, of KU's Energy Research Center. The State Energy Resources Coordination Council is a 13-member group charged with studying and making recommendations concerning the state's energy situation. The council's chairman is Lee Allison, director of the Kansas Geological Survey.

The abstract is available from the Kansas Geological Survey (1930 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047-3726, or 785-864-3965) for $15 plus $4 for handling. Kansas residents should add 7.3 percent sales tax to the total cost of the order. Much of the information in the abstract also is available electronically at www.kansasenergy.org.