Renewable energy, I believe we're in Kansas now

The wind-swept plains of Kansas are ideal for wind and solar energy production, and the state will now get a chance to play on a level field against other states that are adding incentives for renewable energy investments.

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius recently put her signature on the Kansas Economic Revitalization and Reinvestment Act, according to Kansascity.com.

"To recover from this economic recession, we must look to new industries and new opportunities. Renewable energy companies are a perfect fit for Kansas as we’re the third best state in the nation for wind energy and we have a trained and able workforce,” Sebelius was quoted at the Web site. “Kansas wind can provide the energy we need and create sustainable jobs right here at home.”

To receive funding under the plan, a project must:

• relate to the research, development, engineering or manufacturing of a business component or product for either the wind or solar energy industries.
• require at least a $30 million proposed investment in Kansas.
• within five years, employ a minimum of 200 full-time employees at an average salary of at least $32,500.

Those are pretty heady requirements for public aid, but it's good that Kansas is thinking big-picture.

Towers of power

A California utility plans to power more than 800,000 homes with solar electricity in a new project.

Southern California Edison plans to puchase electricity from a series of solar towers to be operated by BrightSource Energy.

Drawing from the design of a BrightSource "power tower" in Israel’s Negev Desert, the California towers will use heliostats or moving mirrors to concentrate light onto a tower. This concentrated energy will be used to make steam. The first project will be completed in 2013, according to this article.

Aiming to generate 100-megawatts of power in Ivanpah, Calif., Brightsource says it can power 65,000 homes via 286,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year.

Financial details of the deal are not being revealed, but some are calling this one of the biggest solar power contracts in the United States.

This is the kind of project that can be replicated in many areas of the United States.

Here's a video from Brightsource.

Solar-powered wifi

A company called Meraki is selling a variety of solar-powered Wifi options that may make sense for public entities, businesses or even some consumers.

It's pricey to install ($1,300+), but over the long haul this sort of device may pay off. Not only would there be financial benefits, but there would be good public relations to be had. Imagine an airport being able to say "Our free wifi is brought to you by the power of the sun."

For businesses, it would be an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint, which is a marketable concept. If you're an owner of an appartment complex, imagine being able to say that you'll throw in free, solar-powered Wifi as part of the rent.

It would have good applications at parks, fairgrounds and more. See Meraki's Web site for more details.