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.
Gage County approves moratorium on wind, solar permits
Gage County will not accept permits for wind or solar projects after a new moratorium was put in place Wednesday by the Gage County Board of Supervisors. The board last approved a moratorium in January that’s set to expire July 15. It was initially put in place more than a year ago, and was extended this week to last through the end of 2021 as the planning and zoning commissions reevaluates the county’s regulation. “The end of the current moratorium . . . Complete story »
Gage County extends moratorium again, on wind farm permit applications
BEATRICE – Voicing some differences, the Gage County Board Wednesday voted 5-2 to extend a moratorium on wind energy permit applications through December 31st. The move is designed to provide more time to work through the public hearing process and finalizing any potential changes. But some officials say the moratorium, now more than a year old, has gone on too long. Board member Don Schuller would like to allow for project applications. “I think they’re doing a good job and . . . Complete story »
Wind energy company studying Jefferson County for possible wind farm
FAIRBURY, NE – A major renewable energy company is studying to see if Jefferson County would be a good spot for a new wind farm. The Jefferson County Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve a special use permit for Big Blue Nebraska Wind LLC to build a meteorological tower. The tower will be built about two miles northwest of Harbine. Big Blue Nebraska Wind LLC is owned by NextEra Energy, a Florida-based company that claims to generate more wind and . . . Complete story »
Editorial: One useful tool to preserve our precious land
It seems to us on the edge of “God’s Cow Country” that Sandhills residents (and western Nebraskans in general) are environmentalists in the most practical sense. The past 150 years have taught our region, especially its ranchers, that our vast open areas beyond our river valleys can’t simply be plowed up or disturbed at will. Hard experience capped by the 1930s “Dust Bowl” laid bare the fragility of the sand dunes’ thin layers of grassland that have sustained untold millions . . . Complete story »
Brewer at the Legislature: Worn-out wind turbine blades get dumped
I recently learned of a site in western Nebraska where the remains of obsolete wind turbines are being temporarily stored. This concerned me very much because I do not want any new landfill created in Nebraska for the disposal of wind turbine blades. There are about 58,000 wind turbines in the U.S., according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database. There are plans to build an additional 3,000 more wind turbines by the end of this year. Turbine blades need to . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine blade blocks westbound Interstate 80 traffic near Gretna
Authorities advised westbound Interstate 80 drivers traveling with plans to travel past Gretna should find an alternate route after a turbine blade slipped onto the roadway. Sarpy County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kyle Percifield tweeted a photo of the blade, noting that drivers would not be able to get past the Highway 31 exit at Gretna until the turbine was removed. Percifield told 6 News weather played a role in the accident. “Weather did make the shoulder soft, causing it to get . . . Complete story »
Wind power can’t be counted on
Recently, the Nebraska Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee heard from the leaders of NPPD, OPPD, LES and Southwest Power Pool. During his testimony, Lanny Nickell, chief operating officer for SPP, gave a good definition of accredited capacity: the “amount of nameplate rating that you expect to show up when you need it.” The expected wind energy on the Valentine’s Day weekend cold spell was 3,500 megawatts out of 28,000 megawatts installed in the SPP footprint. That would be 12.5% efficiency expected . . . Complete story »
Gage County Planning and Zoning continues wind regulations review
BEATRICE – The Gage County Planning and Zoning Commission continued its review of wind energy regulations Tuesday night, reaching consensus on a few recommendations. One area where the commission will wait for more information is on potential wind tower setbacks from public use areas, like parks and lakes. Assistant Lower Big Blue NRD Manager Scott Sobotka says that topic came up during consideration of wind farms in Saline County, though later in the process for the NRD. “The NRD certainly . . . Complete story »
Apex announces Jayhawk Wind sale to power Facebook facility in Nebraska
Monday’s press release noted that Facebook “stepped in as the project’s offtaker after a previous power purchase agreement was mutually dissolved.” [Commissioner Jeremy] Johnson said that while he might have appreciated being told earlier about Facebook’s involvement in the deal, it was not entirely surprising to him that the county government wasn’t informed beforehand, given the scale of the project and how it is financed. “This is kind of in line with that,” he said. Large corporations like Facebook often make moves such as using green energy to power new facilities they’re building “to improve PR image,” Johnson said. Complete story »
Bill would regulate wind energy in Nebraska
Wind energy is one solution that many supporting green energy say can help the country move away from fossil fuels, like coal and natural gas. But Senator Tom Brewer, who represents much of the Sandhills, said they cause a different reaction in his district. “When it came to Western Nebraska, what we had happen was a tear in the fabric of the communities,” said Brewer. Brewer said Friday he wasn’t there to debate the merits of wind energy, but said . . . Complete story »
