Wind Power News: Nebraska
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Big wind: too much of a good thing?
Wind and solar power are great things and when properly integrated into the fabric of things. In Burt County, we have the potential to go from a few small turbines scattered around to being completely saturated by massive turbines that will dominate our county for decades. Citizens United recently polled county residents and found Burt County residents to be overwhelmingly against such a development. However, this fact is not enough to protect us from something the minority desires for the . . . Complete story »
Gage County Planning Commission to set public hearing on wind regulations amendment
BEATRICE – Gage County’s Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on possible wind farm rule changes, governing tower setback and noise limits. The commission voted 6-1 to move ahead with that step, hearing from a packed county board room during a public comment period, Tuesday night. Well over 100 people attended… in the county supervisors room, an adjoining room, the hallway outside and across the hall at the county clerk’s office. Larry Allder of rural Cortland filed an amendment . . . Complete story »
Visit to wind farm prompts potential change
A visit to a wind farm spurred questions to the viability of the half-mile setback determined by the Burt County Planning Commission. Rodney Bromm, planning commission chairman, and David Six, Burt County zoning administrator, met with the Board of Supervisors on Friday at their regular meeting to provide updates on their recommendations for updates to the Burt County Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Regulations. Bromm said they used the comprehensive plan as a base and went from there to work with . . . Complete story »
County board tightens zoning regulations on wind energy
County board members voted Monday to approve zoning regulation amendments designed to further protect Hamilton County and its residents from potential health and financial risks that some fear could be caused by allowing large commercial wind energy developments. Two months after the county voted to reject a four-turbine wind energy project south and west of Interstate 80, the board approved several specific amendments requested by citizens who had vehemently opposed the Omaha-based Bluestem Energy Solutions project. “I’d like to thank . . . Complete story »
Beatrice city officials hear about proposed wind farm
BEATRICE – Even though it won’t have any decision-making authority over it, the Beatrice City Council and Mayor heard about a wind farm proposal Monday night that could have a significant financial impact for the Beatrice area. An attorney representing NextEra Energy Resources, told city officials the company is considering a 50-turbine wind farm in northern Gage County on land mostly owned by one entity and leased for farming. David Levy, of Omaha said at this point, no formal permit . . . Complete story »
Concerned Burt County citizen
Only a month ago, I was oblivious like many others in Burt County, regarding the plans to build massive wind turbines in our beautiful county. A New York based company, Con Edison, has been working particular people in the area to conduct feasibility studies. They hope to be operational by 2023. Let me say that again, ‘operational by 2023’. These wind turbines are not anything like the windmills of the past. They are incomparable. Wind turbines are massive pieces of . . . Complete story »
Preparing for possible wind turbines in Burt County
According to the American Wind Energy Association, as of fourth quarter, there have been 1,045 turbines installed in Nebraska with 26 wind projects. The state ranks 16th for number of wind turbines. Burt County could potentially add to that number, though there are no applications yet. The Burt County Planning Commission met Feb. 10 with a public hearing on setback regulations for wind and solar farms. The meeting was about what the county was doing in their comprehensive plan potentially . . . Complete story »
Lincoln County commissioners approve tighter regulations on decommissioning wind turbine blades
Lincoln County commissioners tightened up the wind energy zoning regulations to emphasize decommissioning of such projects that would protect the county and its citizens. On Monday, the board voted to approve amendments that would require companies to provide funds to pay for removal of wind turbines. Prior to the vote, several members of the public spoke in favor of the resolution and praised the Lincoln County Planning Commission for its work on the regulations. Terry Madson, who lives in Nuckolls . . . Complete story »
County drafts updated regs for wind farms
Faced with the prospect of a wind farm south of North Platte, county officials are considering tougher requirements to decommission wind turbines, Lincoln County Zoning Administrator Judy Clark told the county commissioners Monday. Proposed revisions have been unanimously approved by the planning commission. One provision would require a wind farm developer to post financial assurance that the turbines will be removed when that time comes. A wind turbine project is under consideration in southern Lincoln County on some 15,000 acres . . . Complete story »
Lincoln County eyes stricter wind project regulations; will host public hearing Feb. 10
The Lincoln County commissioners have set at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 10 for a public hearing regarding a proposed amendment to the county’s zoning regulations for wind turbine projects. During Monday’s meeting, a motion to acknowledge receipt of the proposed changes was passed and County Planning Administrator Judy Clark was on hand to answer questions from the board concerning the changes. The changes were in language for financial assurance, discontinuing and decommission plans for wind turbines and liability insurance within a . . . Complete story »
