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.
No action taken on Cherry County wind farm proposal
The Cherry County Commissioners took no action on a proposed wind turbine project at a public hearing Tuesday. The public hearing was held at the Valentine High School Auditorium. About 80 landowners, their attorneys, and stakeholders were present. Forty people testified before the commissioners. Those who are against the project believe wind farms are detrimental to the environment and public health. They also believe the conditional use permit proposal is a violation of their property rights and question the regulations . . . Complete story »
Downsides to wind
The Omaha Public Power District once produced and delivered its own electricity to its customers. Now OPPD’s dependence on electricity produced by others has dramatically increased. This dependency has, in my opinion, significantly reduced the reliability of the electricity provided to OPPD customers. OPPD, like California, is now very dependent on others for providing electricity. Both have aggressive goals for rapidly expanding the amount of electricity produced by wind turbines. That wind power is so unreliable that only a small . . . Complete story »
Unfurling the waste problem caused by wind energy
While most of a turbine can be recycled or find a second life on another wind farm, researchers estimate the U.S. will have more than 720,000 tons of blade material to dispose of over the next 20 years, a figure that doesn’t include newer, taller higher-capacity versions. There aren’t many options to recycle or trash turbine blades, and what options do exist are expensive, partly because the U.S. wind industry is so young. It’s a waste problem that runs counter . . . Complete story »
As wind energy thrives, so does its waste problem
For environmentalists, wind energy is the crown jewel of renewable resources. But once it’s time to close the wind farm down, the industry’s waste problem becomes counterintuitive to its green mission. Over the last two years, Rob Van Vleet has been slowly scraping the last vestiges of Kimball, Nebraska’s first wind farm. The wind turbines are made to be sturdy, he said, but they don’t last forever – about 20 years. While most of a turbine can be recycled or find . . . Complete story »
Wind farm moratorium discussed at commissioners
A six-month moratorium for project development on the Milligan One wind farm in Saline County was discussed during the Aug. 20 Saline County Commissioners board meeting. The request was brought forward by Sandra Koll of Wilber and Gary Veprovsky of Dorchester, who would like additional regulations established with the county before construction continues. Some of those desired regulations include FAA approved lights on top of the turbines and sound level restrictions. “Right now we (the county) have nothing on noise, . . . Complete story »
Editorial: Nebraska lawmakers should scrutinize the state’s conflict of interest laws
It’s uncertain what the final result will be from the legal wrangling over a proposed wind farm in the Nebraska Sand Hills. But one aspect of this issue ought to be certain: The Legislature next year should scrutinize and debate the proper way for state law to define conflicts of interest for public officials. In the wind farm case, a Nebraska District Court judge in July temporarily blocked two Cherry County Board members from voting on an application for the . . . Complete story »
Commissioners address right of way issue
An official complaint regarding a right-of-way occupancy on County Road M and under Road 400 in Saline County was addressed by the commissioners board at its July 23 meeting. The ROW request was approved at the board’s June 25 meeting and was submitted by Milligan 1 Wind LLC. Wilber resident Sandra Koll spoke on behalf of Marilyn Capek, who filed the complaint. Capek owns the land but lives out of state. In her complaint, Capek asked the ROW to be . . . Complete story »
Sen. Brewer: Cherry County case shows need for zoning rules on wind projects
Last week I attended a hearing in the District Court in O’Neill concerning the Cherry County commissioners. They are being sued by Preserve the Sandhills, a group of citizens who oppose wind energy development in the Sandhills. I’m pleased to report the judge ruled in Preserve the Sandhills’ favor. Judge Mark Kozisek’s order temporarily stops board members Tanya Storer and Martin DeNaeyer from “hearing, discussing, considering, influencing or voting” on a conditional use permit for a planned wind energy facility . . . Complete story »
Wind farm complaint addressed at commissioners
Concerned residents of Saline County spoke during the July 9 commissioners meeting regarding conditional use permits and the project timeline of the Milligan One wind project. Since January, EDF Renewables has owned the wind farm project, with construction set to begin later this year. “I received a complaint in writing and my job is to do some investigating and figure out what to do,” planning and zoning administrator Lyle Weber said. “I’m here basically for guidance.” The letter was sent . . . Complete story »
In conflict-of-interest case, judge rules 2 Cherry County Board members can’t vote on wind project
A judge on Monday temporarily blocked two Cherry County Board members from voting on a planned wind energy project in the Sandhills, siding with opponents who argued those board members have a financial stake in the project’s outcome. District Judge Mark Kozisek’s order temporarily prohibits board members Tanya Storer and Martin DeNaeyer from “hearing, discussing, considering, influencing or voting” on a conditional use permit for a 19-turbine wind farm planned west of Kilgore. Preserve the Sandhills, the advocacy group that . . . Complete story »
