From the Wichita Eagle opinion page:

BY EMIL RAMIREZ

Last month, the United Steelworkers joined environmental organizations and other trade unions to launch the Kansas Blue Green Alliance. We are united to pursue what is really the largest economic development project in Kansas history: development of our tremendous wind resource.

Rather than spurring development in one place, development of wind energy -- which creates no pollution and uses no water -- creates jobs across the state.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Kansas could contribute at least 7,000 megawatts of wind energy to meet the national goal of 20 percent of electricity from wind. That would mean:

• $20 million every year to Kansas landowners who host turbines.

• $20 million every year to Kansas counties that host turbines.

• 11,000 construction jobs over 20 years.

• 1,800 permanent operations and maintenance jobs in many counties.

Remember, every wind turbine requires hundreds of yards of concrete, miles of steel rebar, copper wire and highly skilled laborers to install.

Better yet, every wind turbine is made from some 8,000 parts, most of which could be manufactured right here in Kansas if it, the nation's third windiest state, were to take its rightful leading role.

More than 400 existing Kansas companies could take part in this growth, and studies estimate creation or protection of as many as 11,000 manufacturing jobs.

While the wind development jobs will be in the western part of our state, the manufacturing jobs will concentrate in the central and eastern part of the state, making wind a truly statewide development opportunity.

Add to that a concerted investment in energy efficiency -- bringing all our Kansas buildings up to standards that save citizens energy and money -- and you have a bigger boom still.

Dollars spent to save energy must be spent locally: Insulation must be added. Ductwork must be sealed. Weather stripping must be applied. Furnaces and boilers must be replaced. More efficient appliances must be purchased. On top of all this, an army of energy auditors will be necessary to test and verify improvements.

We do need good legislation that will place Kansas on a level playing field with neighboring states. States with a renewable portfolio standard, for example, have thousands of wind jobs to show for it.

In Colorado, Vestas alone will employ more than 1,000 factory workers making wind turbines and towers by the end of 2010. Iowa has more than 2,000 megawatts installed to our 1,000, though it is the 10th-windiest state and Kansas the third. Iowa hosts numerous manufacturing plants, while Kansas has none.

Kansas, let's get our head out of the sand and recognize the future. The new secretary of energy won a Nobel Prize for physics and has worked on renewable energy most of his adult life. President Barack Obama repeatedly has said that he will emphasize renewable energy in any plan for the future.

Our best, most secure future lies in capitalizing on the resources we have in abundance. As every Kansan knows, we've got wind. Let's see our legislators come together to make it pay.

Emil Ramirez is assistant director of the United Steelworkers, District 11, in Topeka.