Kansas Energy and Environmental Policy Advisory Group (KEEP) 

On March 21, 2008, Governor Kathleen Sebelius issued  Executive Order No. 08-03 establishing the Kansas Energy and Environmental Planning Advisory Group (KEEP). The group’s purpose is to identify opportunities for Kansas to respond to the challenge of global climate change, while becoming more energy efficient and energy independent and spurring economic growth.

The consensus among the world’s scientific community is that emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are causing the Earth’s climate to warm. Throughout the world, business leaders, governments, and the public are all recognizing the potential impacts of climate change on the economy, environment, and our quality of life. 

The Advisory Group is comprised of members representing a broad base of industry, utilities, state and local governments, environmental interest groups, and academia. It will act in an advisory capacity to:

• Review and approve a current inventory and forecast of GHG sources and emissions from 1990 through 2025.  
  
• Develop and recommend short-, medium-, and long-term goals for statewide reductions in the amount of GHGs emitted by activities in Kansas.
  
• Develop and recommend comprehensive climate mitigation policies in all economic sectors in Kansas through 2025 to meet or exceed state emission reduction goals. This will include (but not be limited to) the following policy measures: 

a.       New incentives for development of a diversified electricity generation portfolio; 

b.       An appropriate energy generation portfolio goal, or series of goals, taking into consideration regional and national markets; 

c.       Laws, rules and regulations, and policies needed to facilitate diversification of the energy generation portfolio; and

d.       Any additional studies related to the Advisory Group’s charge that might be appropriately undertaken by the Kansas research universities.

• Develop and recommend an action plan to reduce GHG emissions across key segments of the Kansas economy.  

KEEP is being supported by a number of state agencies that are sharing responsibility for this effort, and by the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), a nonprofit service organization with substantial experience working directly with public officials and their stakeholders to facilitate the development of state climate action plans.

In addition to KEEP, there will be five technical work groups that will have further input into the process by reviewing technical documents, developing and reviewing proposed policy actions and recommendations, and providing feedback on priorities. (For information on their activities click on the "Technical Work Groups" button at left.)

For detailed information, please visit Executive Order No. 08-03, [http://www.governor.ks.gov/executive/orders/exec_order0803.htm] and the corresponding press release [http://www.governor.ks.gov/news/NewsRelease/2008/nr-08-0321a.htm]  issued by the Governor.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius

The KEEP Interim Report 
is now available.

Meeting 4 of KEEP
Thursday, April 30, 2009
in Topeka, KS

(For details click here.)