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Wind Power News: Nebraska
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Wind energy public hearing approaches, opinion poll circulates
On Monday, Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. in the Lincoln County district courtroom on the third floor of the courthouse, the county commissioners will hold a public hearing to take testimony in support or opposition of proposed changes to zoning regulations of large-scale, commercial and utility-grade wind and solar energy developments. At least two major developers have taken steps to build wind generators in Lincoln County. In 2020, the company, Invenergy, negotiated a contract with NCORPE to build generators about . . . Complete story »
Doubts raised about income from wind project, impact on wildlife
An opponent of the Greeley County wind farm says the 41 wind towers approved Tuesday will not be as financially profitable for the county as some people expect. Nebraska Department of Revenue figures for the last couple of years show each wind tower generates about $6,400 per year for the county in which it’s located, said Robert Bernt. If you multiply that figure times 41, it totals about $262,000 a year for the county. Those dollars come through Nebraska’s nameplate . . . Complete story »
Buffalo County sets new distancing requirements for possible wind farms
The Buffalo County Commissioners voted unanimously last week to approve distancing rules that were recommended by the planning commission. The rules say a wind farm can’t be located or expanded within three miles of agriculture residential zoned property, three miles from any parcel owned by a non-applicant, three miles of a church, hospital, pool or park, five miles of any village or city, two miles of a burial site, the Platte River and South Loup River areas or five miles . . . Complete story »
Packed house attends Jefferson County zoning meeting on wind energy regulations
Fairbury – About 130 people attended a Jefferson County Planning and Zoning meeting Thursday night, as officials continue to discuss proposed wind energy regulations. NextEra Energy Resources wants permission to build a second wind farm in the county in the Jansen and Plymouth areas, with up to 90 wind turbines. Currently, Jefferson County has a moratorium on wind permits while regulations are finalized. Local attorney Greg Kratz says the goal is coming up with a set of regulations that are equitable . . . Complete story »
Sumner residents request five-mile setbacks for wind turbines
Sumner area residents asked for zoning setbacks of five miles or more in regards to a proposed wind farm during the Dawson County Planning Commission meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13. Landowners around the Sumner area have received a wind turbine and easement agreement from NextEra Energy Resources of Juno Beach, Florida, regarding a “Canaday Wind Energy Center” that would be located in the county. “We are in the initial stages of assessing whether this community is compatible for a renewable energy . . . Complete story »
Proposed wind farm in Dawson County, locals opposed
SUMNER – A wind farm project is being proposed in Dawson County by NextEra Energy Resources, a plan which a number of locals are opposed. Landowners around the Sumner area recently received a wind farm and easement agreement from NextEra Energy Resources of Juno Beach, Fla., regarding a “Canaday Wind Energy Center” that would be located in the county. By signing the agreement landowners could grant a lease to NextEra for the wind farm for an initial period of 36 months. . . . Complete story »
Commissioners address wind farm rumor
Rumors and misinformation continue to plague the ongoing debate over wind farm regulations in Jefferson County. One such rumor was addressed by County Commissioner Gale Pohlmann, who categorically denied any involvement in the closing of his own church for the benefit of a proposed wind farm. Commissioners discussed this latest rumor at their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. At that meeting, commissioner Michael Dux said, “I guess I’m disappointed when there’s rumors going out throughout the community about . . . Complete story »
Planning and Zoning meets to review wind farm regulations
As anticipated, the courtroom of the Jefferson County Courthouse was at capacity the evening of Thursday, August 18, as the Jefferson County Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Committee met to revisit wind turbine regulations. No decisions were made on when or whether the P&Z Committee will recommend the county lift the moratorium on wind turbine development that has been in place since September 15, 2021. The moratorium, which has allowed county officials to review regulations governing wind farms and to gather . . . Complete story »
Jansen board chair contradicts village attorney
Kesha Eldridge, Chairperson of the Jansen Village Board, spoke at the recent Planning and Zoning Committee meeting regarding wind turbine regulations in Jefferson County. Her comments contradict a statement made weeks earlier by the village’s attorney, Gregory Kratz. At that meeting on Thursday, August 18, in front of the committee and over 150 members of the public, Chairperson Eldridge claimed that when she presented a letter asking for three-mile setbacks for wind turbines in March of this year to Jefferson . . . Complete story »
Large crowd attends meeting on proposed Jefferson County wind farm
FAIRBURY – A Jefferson County Planning and Zoning meeting was held Thursday night at the Jefferson County Courthouse to continue talks of NextEra’s plan to build a second wind farm in Jefferson County. The special use permit is proposing to build up to 90 wind turbines, capable of generating 300 megawatts of energy, in the Jansen and Plymouth areas. The courtroom was packed with over 100 people, debating whether the aesthetic view shed, financial, and environmental risks that come along . . . Complete story »
