Kansas’s Dependence on Imported Coal

In 2008, Kansas imported over 99 percent of the coal used by its power plants, primarily from Wyoming, resulting in a net outflow of $516 million. Coal provided 72.9 percent of the state's electricity mix. The document argues that investing in energy efficiency and leveraging the state's high technical potential for wind and bioenergy could reduce this dependence and boost the local economy.

• In 2008, Kansas was heavily dependent on imported coal for its power plants, importing more than 99 percent of the coal it burned, primarily from Wyoming. This resulted in $518 million leaving the state, while in-state mines exported $2 million to other states, creating a net expenditure of $516 million on imported coal.
• Coal was the dominant source of electricity in Kansas in 2008, accounting for 72.9 percent of the mix. Compared to other states, Kansas ranked 3rd most dependent on net imports as a share of total power use (73 percent), 7th most in net import spending per person ($185), and 10th most in net import spending relative to gross state product (0.42 percent).
• The document identifies a significant gap in energy efficiency investment, noting that in 2007, Kansas spent only $2.44 per person on ratepayer-funded electricity efficiency programs, which is approximately 75 times less than the per capita spending on net coal imports. A 1 percent annual reduction in electricity use could save consumers nearly $18 million and reduce out-of-state payments by up to $6 million in the first year.
• Kansas possesses substantial renewable energy potential, specifically in wind and bioenergy, with the technical capacity to generate nearly 79 times its 2008 electricity needs. To address coal dependence, Kansas utilities are required to ensure renewable resources provide at least 20 percent of peak power demand by 2020.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2010). Kansas’s Dependence on Imported Coal. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Kansas.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Kansas’s Dependence on Imported Coal. 2010. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Kansas.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Kansas’s Dependence on Imported Coal |date=May 2010 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Kansas.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2010kansass, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Kansas’s Dependence on Imported Coal}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2010}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Kansas.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }