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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Feds weigh Sandhills power line’s impact on endangered beetle
A little black and orange beetle may be the biggest obstacle to a 225-mile-long proposed power line through Nebraska’s Sandhills. But a proposal to protect the beetle while allowing the line to be built has stirred up a hornet’s nest of opposition. Early morning, in a ditch outside a grassy field on the edge of the Sandhills, Bob Harms, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, takes a loosely-propped lid off a plastic bucket. “What do we have?” . . .
Turbine’s toppling could be mystery for months
It might be months before investigators know why a wind turbine toppled last week in a Jefferson County cornfield. Engineers from Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources – which owns the 44-turbine Steele Flats wind farm in Gage and Jefferson counties – will study what remains of the crumpled turbine, said spokesman Bryan Garner. They’ll work with representatives from General Electric, the turbine’s builder, but he said it could take weeks or months to determine what happened. Residents near Diller awoke June 13 to . . .
Re: Stanton County forum on wind turbines
My husband and I are leading the opposition in Nebraska for Stanton County. The Stanton County Forum was held June 13. Norfolk Daily News and News Channel Nebraska covered it. Norfolk Daily news in my opinion actually gave a pretty good summary, but also my opinion News Channel Nebraska censored a lot of the main points which I will touch on below. Before the meeting, the County had a comment/question box that you could throw in one notecard to possibly . . .
Wind turbine collapses in southeastern Nebraska, cause still under investigation
The cause of a collapse that reduced a 262-foot wind turbine to a twisted heap of white metal in southeastern Nebraska is still under investigation, but the farmer on whose land the turbine once stood will continue to be paid as if it were still generating electricity. “We will pay for any crop damage due to the turbine going down and lease payments will not be impacted,” said Bryan Garner, a spokesman for NextEra Energy, which owns the turbine that . . .
Commissioners get an earful on possible Stanton County wind farm
STANTON – The people who gathered Tuesday night at the Stanton County fairgrounds were there to listen – or to voice their opinions – just like the Stanton County Commissioners asked. They filled the folding chairs at the community building, and as more people came, some stood at the back. The public meeting was called by the county board to hear opinions and gather input about potential industrial wind farm development in Stanton County. The format was set up to be balanced, with . . .
Wind turbine crashes to the ground near Diller
A wind turbine collapsed early Tuesday morning at a site about four miles south of Diller. The collapsed turbine was one of the 44 General Electric turbines that generate 1.7 megawatts at the Steele Flats Wind Energy Center. The turbine came crashing to the ground a little before 5 a.m. on Tuesday. No one was injured in the collapse. Steele Flats is operated by Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources and began commercial operations in October of 2013. On Tuesday morning, the . . .
Wind tower collapses south of Diller
BEATRICE – One of the wind turbine towers in the Steele Flats Wind Farm near Diller, has collapsed. The tower is a half-mile west of Nebraska Highway 103 and one mile north of Nebraska Highway 8. The tower is part of the $138 million wind farm, developed by Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources, which includes 32 wind turbines in southeast Jefferson County and 12 more in southwest Gage County. NextEra Energy spokesman Bryan Garner says the company is investigating the cause . . .
Wind turbine collapses near Diller; cause unknown
DILLER – Officials are investigating the cause of a wind turbine tower’s collapse in the Steele Flats Wind Farm in southeastern Nebraska. The turbine had been standing just southwest of Diller and was part of the $138 million wind farm, developed by Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources. The wind farm includes 32 wind turbines in southeast Jefferson County and 12 more in southwest Gage County. NextEra Energy spokesman Bryan Garner says the company is investigating the cause of the collapse. Garner says . . .
Public forum on wind energy is set for Stanton
STANTON – A public forum is set to take place in Stanton Tuesday to get input on a potential wind energy project happening in Stanton County. Stanton County Commissioner Dave Gutshall says the public is encouraged to come to share their feelings toward the wind project. Gutshall says there’ll be no special presenters other than a representative for the opposition and a representative from Trade Wind Energy. He says he’s contacted several people in other areas of Nebraska with existing . . .
Wind is wrong alternative energy
In response to the May 11 editorial “State must capitalize on wind,” I urge anyone who thinks wind farms are a good thing for Nebraska to take a day trip to see the Osborn wind farm in Missouri. It’s on U.S. Highway 36, just east of St. Joseph. Having just gone into production in December 2016, this facility presumably is fairly representative of the latest in wind turbine technology. I’ve had occasion to pass through the area twice recently. I . . .
