KCP&L will increase wind power and energy conservation

Kansas City Power & Light Co. announced that it intends to expand two of its energy-efficiency programs, one of which doubles its wind-generating capacity to serve 124,000 homes.

Under the other program, the utility will open the rebate programs under the Missouri Energy Efficient Investment Act to all of its Missouri customers. That counters environmentalists’ criticism that an earlier conservation-incentive plan wasn’t comprehensive enough.

KCP&L said it plans to buy 400 megawatts of power from two new wind turbine facilities, increasing its wind energy portfolio to 939 megawatts. The company said that will make it the largest provider of renewable energy generation of any investor-owned utility in Missouri or Kansas.

[Kansas City Star]