TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Chamber of Commerce is expanding its legislative agenda this year to include support for repealing the state’s renewable energy standard for utilities.
Chamber executives said Tuesday they’re getting into the renewable energy issue because businesses are concerned about energy costs. The standard requires Kansas utilities to see that renewable sources such as wind provide 20 percent of their electric generating capacity by 2020.
Chamber President and CEO Mike O’Neal also said the group will lobby on education issues.
O’Neal said the chamber’s position on energy isn’t anti-wind, but driven by a belief that the marketplace should drive utility decisions.
But green energy advocate and Lawrence Rabbi Moti Rieber said the chamber is taking a stance against jobs and economic development.