Mercedes Mullins
Kansas City's relationship with fossil fuels is a complex one. While the city has made strides towards a clean energy future, fossil fuels still play a significant role in its energy mix. Kansas is a crude oil-refining state with three refineries that can process about 408,000 barrels of crude oil per day, contributing to the state's petroleum consumption. Additionally, natural gas, a fossil fuel, is widely used in Kansas City, particularly in the restaurant industry, where it powers BBQ grills. However, it's important to note that Kansas City has developed a Climate Action Plan with the ambitious goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and the state is also a significant producer of ethanol and biodiesel. The state also generates a substantial proportion of its electricity from wind power, with wind energy accounting for 46% of Kansas's electricity net generation in 2023, and the state also ranks among the top 10 states with the largest biodiesel-producing capacity.
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What You'll Learn
Kansas City's restaurants rely on natural gas
Kansas's energy profile includes a variety of fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal, and natural gas. In 2023, Kansas accounted for about 1% of US crude oil reserves and production, with three petroleum refineries providing 2% of the country's refining capacity. The state also has a significant presence in the ethanol and biodiesel industries, ranking 8th and among the top 10 states, respectively, in production capacity.
While Kansas is actively pursuing renewable energy sources, with wind energy accounting for 46% of its electricity net generation in 2023, fossil fuels still play a significant role in the state's energy mix. This is particularly true in the transportation sector, which is the largest consumer of petroleum in Kansas, and in the residential and commercial sectors, which rely on natural gas for heating and cooking.
Kansas City, specifically, has a notable dependence on natural gas. The city's restaurants, including its famous BBQ establishments, heavily rely on natural gas for cooking. This is evidenced by the fact that every BBQ grill in the city uses natural gas. While there have been discussions about transitioning to cleaner energy sources as part of the city's Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan, there are currently no bans or restrictions on the use of natural gas. In fact, Kansas City laws prohibit the banning of any fuel source, including natural gas, except in municipal buildings.
The reliance on natural gas by Kansas City's restaurants is further highlighted by the efforts of natural gas companies in the region. During periods of extreme weather, such as arctic temperatures, these companies have urged customers to reduce their energy consumption to maintain supply pressures and ensure safe and reliable service to critical customers, including restaurants.
While natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel, it is not considered clean energy. The American Medical Association has recognized the association between the use of gas stoves and increased household air pollution, particularly the risk of childhood asthma. However, for Kansas City's restaurants, natural gas remains a crucial energy source, and its availability is protected by law.
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Kansas City's Climate Action Plan targets net-zero emissions by 2050
Kansas City's Climate Action Plan aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 through a comprehensive set of strategies. The plan, developed in 2020 by a coalition of community members, stakeholders, and decision-makers, seeks to transform the metropolitan area into a healthier and more vibrant community, building long-term resilience and readiness for the future.
The average carbon footprint per person in Kansas City is nearly 18 tons, more than three times the world average of around 5 tons. To avoid a 2°C rise in global temperatures, individual carbon footprints need to drop below 2 tons per year by 2050. The city has already made significant progress, reducing community-wide emissions by 24% below 2005 levels before 2020.
The Climate Action Plan is divided into nine sections, each with specific goals, strategies, and actions. One key strategy is to increase the percentage of renewable energy in the utility grid mix. By 2030, 70% of grid-delivered electricity is targeted to be carbon-free, with coal generation phased out. Evergy, the energy company, estimates that only 7% of electricity will be generated from coal by the 2040 deadline.
Kansas City's plan also acknowledges the actions already taken by municipalities, community-based organizations, and neighborhoods to reduce greenhouse gases and prepare for extreme weather. The plan will build upon these initiatives and include a new comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory and climate risk assessment.
While natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel, it is still a potent greenhouse gas contributor. Kansas City's plan includes strategies to "Develop Renewable Natural Gas Resources for Strategic Uses," recognizing the limitations and costs associated with renewable natural gas derived from landfills or animal waste.
The city's efforts towards net-zero emissions are supported by the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program, which assists in updating the Regional Climate Action Plan. The plan's success relies on leadership development and capacity building across communities, organizations, and businesses to drive the required level of change.
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Kansas is the eighth-largest ethanol-producing state
Kansas is a major agricultural state, with hot summers and cold winters. It is the number one producer of wheat and sorghum and ranks third in the number of cattle and beef production. The state also ranks among the top ten corn-producing states.
The state's ethanol plants provide a market for 217 million bushels of corn and other grains. The co-product of ethanol production, distillers grains, is sold as a high-nutrient livestock feed. Kansas Corn's “Fueled by Kansas” campaign aims to educate consumers about ethanol and encourage them to purchase higher ethanol blends.
Kansas is also a producer of biodiesel, with one biodiesel plant that can produce 91 million gallons per year, almost four times the state's annual consumption. Additionally, Kansas is a crude oil-refining state, with three refineries that can process about 408,000 barrels of crude oil per day, accounting for 2% of the nation's refining capacity.
While Kansas has been increasing its use of renewable energy sources, natural gas is still a significant fuel source in the state, especially in Kansas City, where it is used in many restaurants for cooking. However, natural gas is not considered clean energy, and Kansas City is working towards reducing its carbon emissions and encouraging the transition to modern electric appliances.
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$14.09
Kansas's three refineries process 408,000 barrels of crude oil daily
Kansas is a crude oil-refining state, with three petroleum refineries providing 2% of the US's refining capacity. Together, these refineries process about 408,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a range of petroleum products, including diesel fuel, motor gasoline, and jet fuel. The transportation sector is the largest consumer of petroleum in Kansas, accounting for about 70% of the state's usage. The industrial sector accounts for a quarter of the state's petroleum consumption, while the residential and commercial sectors combined account for approximately 4%.
Kansas is also the eighth-largest ethanol-producing state, with 12 ethanol plants that have a combined production capacity of about 630 million gallons per year. The state produces almost five times more ethanol than it consumes, with the surplus being sent to other states or exported internationally. In addition, Kansas has 66 public fueling stations that sell E-85 ethanol, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.
While Kansas has made significant strides in renewable energy production, particularly in wind and solar power, the state still relies heavily on fossil fuels. In 2023, coal supplied 27% of the state's energy generation, a decrease from 61% a decade earlier. Natural gas-fired power plants contributed about 8% to the state's energy generation. Kansas's one nuclear power plant, Wolf Creek Generating Station, accounted for 17% of electricity net generation in 2023.
The state has implemented a Climate Action Plan, aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and decarbonizing the building sector by 2040. The passage of securitization legislation allows utilities to address the costs associated with uneconomic coal generation and accelerate the transition to net-zero carbon emissions from the power sector.
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Kansas's wind energy is cheaper than coal and natural gas
Kansas is a major producer of fossil fuels, with considerable crude oil, natural gas, and ethanol production. The state's three refineries can process about 408,000 barrels of crude oil per day, accounting for 2% of the US refining capacity. Kansas is also the eighth-largest ethanol producer, with 12 plants capable of producing 630 million gallons annually. The state has 16 natural gas underground storage fields, holding about 3% of US storage capacity.
However, Kansas is also a leader in renewable energy sources, particularly wind power. Since 2019, wind has been the largest source of electricity generation in the state, surpassing coal. In 2023, wind energy accounted for 46% of Kansas's net electricity generation, the third-highest in the US after Iowa and South Dakota. Kansas also generates a significant portion of its electricity from solar, biomass, and hydroelectric power.
The transition to wind energy in Kansas has created over 22,000 jobs and generated millions in tax revenue. It is also economically beneficial, as wind power is cheaper to generate than coal and natural gas. Securitization legislation has helped accelerate the transition to wind and solar by providing utilities with access to low-cost financing and reducing costs for consumers.
Kansas is committed to a clean energy future, with the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Kansas City metropolitan area has developed a Climate Action Plan, which includes decarbonizing the building sector by 2040. While natural gas is still widely used, particularly in restaurants and homes, the city is encouraging the adoption of modern electric appliances to reduce indoor air pollution and improve public health.
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Frequently asked questions
Fossil fuels are the primary source of energy in Kansas City, accounting for about 80% of the state's energy usage.
The fossil fuels used in Kansas City include natural gas, coal, and crude oil. Natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel and is commonly used in restaurants for cooking.
Kansas City has developed a Climate Action Plan with the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and decarbonizing the building sector by 2040. The city encourages the use of modern electric appliances instead of gas appliances and promotes the development of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and bioenergy.
