Wind Power News: Nebraska
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These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
OPPD seeks contracts to add wind power
The Omaha Public Power District is shopping for large-scale wind energy for the first time.
The public utility said Tuesday that it wants proposals from private companies to erect new wind turbines to generate up to 80 megawatts of electricity that OPPD could purchase by the end of 2009 or early in 2010.
“Our customers have told us they would like to see us produce more electricity from renewable resources like the wind,” said Gary Gates, president and chief . . .
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NPPD, private developers team up to add more wind energy
The Nebraska Public Power District plans to add more than 400 megawatts of wind power — roughly equal to a mid-sized coal-fired plant — to its energy portfolio over the coming decade.
NPPD, the state’s largest electric utility, would not own the turbines but would work with private developers on a number of projects, said Dave Rich, the utility’s renewable energy development manager.
The investment in wind energy could exceed $1 billion, Rich said, and would take place over the next . . .
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Aspen approves wind deal
Aspen City Council approved a deal Monday where the city’s municipal electric utility will purchase more wind energy from a Nebraska supplier, which would allow the city to sell some of its locally generated renewable power to Holy Cross Energy.
Holy Cross would then sell the renewable power to the Aspen Skiing Co. and other local businesses that would be willing to pay a premium for the clean energy.
The city’s electric utility, which serves the historic town site of Aspen encompassing . . .
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Nebraska to add another wind farm
Nebraska Public Power District and Crofton Hills Wind Farm announced Thursday that they have signed a 20-year power purchase agreement that will result in the construction of a second wind farm between Bloomfield and Crofton.
The 42-megawatt Crofton Hills Wind Farm, to be located south of Crofton, will become operational in 2009 and is expected to annually produce enough energy to supply an amount of electricity equal to that consumed by approximately 13,000 Nebraska residences in a year. The project is . . .
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NPPD agrees to buy power from new wind farm near Bloomfield
An agreement announced Monday will pave the way for construction of Nebraska’s largest wind farm near Bloomfield.
The Nebraska Public Power District signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Midwest Wind Energy and its affiliate, Elkhorn Ridge Wind.
The 80-megawatt Elkhorn Ridge wind energy project, to be built by the end of 2008, is expected to generate enough electricity annually to power about 25,000 Nebraska homes.
The $140 million project is a result of NPPD’s request for proposals in July for wind projects . . .
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Rate increases temper wind energy development
An online survey by Southern Power District has revealed that customers are a little hesitant about wind power, especially if it involves a rate increase on their monthly electrical bill.
“Through this survey we have learned that, with the rate increase imposed upon them, our customers want all of our actions to be sensible,” said LeAnne Doose of Southern Power District.
The survey revealed that recent rate increases implemented by Southern Power District to help pay for the extensive ice storm damage . . .
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NPPD shifts focus to large private wind projects
What a difference a year makes.
At this time last year, Nebraska advocates for wind energy were bracing for another legislative session of mostly futile efforts to nudge public power out of its resistance to privately developed wind projects.
Now, the Nebraska Public Power District, the state’s largest public utility, is negotiating with three private developers on projects totaling 150 megawatts a figure that would dwarf the state’s current production of 73 MW per year.
So what happened? John Hansen, president of the . . .
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Governors sign pact to focus on renewable energy
MILWAUKEE — The region’s governors signed an agreement Thursday to work together to reduce energy consumption, focus more on renewable energy and limit greenhouse gas emissions.
The noon signing was part of a regional summit on energy and climate change hosted by the Midwestern Governors Association.
The office of Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, chairman of the 12-member group, said the Midwest can lead the nation in renewable energy.
“Our strong manufacturing base and rich agricultural industries, along with the wealth of resources in . . .
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Third Planet plans new wind farms
Third Planet Windpower LLC will pay $350 million to a General Electric Co. subsidiary to supply it with 167 wind turbines for projects in Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming.
The San Ramon, Calif.-based wind power developer will use the 1.5-megawatt turbines in one or more new wind farms in each of the states. The projects will be ready for installation in 2009. In total, the GE Energy turbines will have the capacity to produce enough electricity for 60,000 to 75,000 . . .
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Wind test tower to be erected near Battle Creek
A company from Bad Axe, Mich., will be testing the potential for wind energy in Madison County.
The Madison County Joint Planning Commission has recommended approval of a permit for Third Planet Wind Power, which wants to erect a temporary 197-foot tower nine miles southwest of Battle Creek.
The tower would be up at least a year — and maybe longer — as the company gauges the potential for a future wind energy project, said John Johnson, county zoning administrator.
It already has . . .
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