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.
Hundreds show up in opposition of wind farm
SYRACUSE – NextEra Energy Resources held a meeting with Lancaster and Otoe County residents Wednesday evening at the county fairgrounds in Syracuse to discuss the benefits of the Panama Wind Farm that would place approximately 38 wind turbines across Lancaster and Otoe counties. NextEra, which is said to be the world’s largest producer of renewable energy, was met by hundreds of area residents wearing matching yellow shirts that read “say no to big wind” to express their disapproval with the . . . Complete story »
County halts windmill tower leases
NEBRASKA CITY – Otoe County commissioners’ moratorium on applications for windmill turbine permits will halt finalization of any more leases between the county’s landowners and energy producers. Commissioner Jim Thurman, who is heading up a county review on wind turbine regulations and an outlook on future energy needs, said some landowners have already signed leases for a proposed wind farm of 18 to 56 turbine towers from Panama in Lancaster County to Douglas in Otoe County. Thurman said county commissioners . . . Complete story »
Opposition rising against gigantic windmill turbines
NEBRASKA CITY – Otoe County commissioners appeased an overflowing crowd Tuesday with passage of a one-year moratorium on accepting applications for wind turbine permits. The action comes after the Federal Aviation Administration began an impact study on a proposed wind farm between Panama in Lancaster County and Douglas in Otoe County. The proposal includes 18 to 56 turbines with a height up to 650 feet, which is nearly twice as a high as the 362-foot Nebraska Capitol building. Krista Kester . . . Complete story »
Rural Lancaster County town holds public meeting on wind turbines
PANAMA – The debate of wind turbines in eastern Nebraska has extended to one of the states biggest counties. Panama, NE., a town of just over 200 in rural Lancaster County, held a public meeting Wednesday night about a proposed number of wind farms. Chad Walvoord is a crop duster in the area and got a letter about possible turbines from the FAA. He and his wife Deanna started a Facebook group to alert the community. “April 5, we made . . . Complete story »
Tempers flare at Jansen meeting regarding wind farms
“I need you to remain civil. I’m asking you to remain civil.” This admonition was repeated multiple times by Kesha Eldridge, chairperson of the Village Board of Jansen, during a meeting to discuss the future of wind energy in Jefferson County on Tuesday, April 5. While a moratorium preventing new wind turbines from being erected in Jefferson County is in place, the campaign on both sides of the controversial issue of wind farms is continuing. Members of a Facebook group . . . Complete story »
Jefferson County residents fearful of potential wind farm
A group of Jefferson County residents is hoping to make wind regulations more strict amidst fear of a potential commercial wind farm in the area. Jefferson County Wind Watchers was organized by Jenna Wietzki, a rural Plymouth woman concerned about wind turbines potentially being built in eastern Jefferson County. “The taxes are low and there’s a nice school in Plymouth, so we wanted to live the dream out here in the country, have horses and wanted to raise our kids . . . Complete story »
Wind farm issue has many angles
While a moratorium preventing new wind turbines from being erected in Jefferson County has been extended, the campaign on both sides of the controversial issue of wind farms is continuing. A meeting was held at the Jefferson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 22. County commissioners voted unanimously to extend a moratorium preventing consideration of any new wind farm applications for up to a year, ending on April 1, 2023. That moratorium has already been in place for over six months. . . . Complete story »
Jefferson County Commissioners debate wind energy zoning changes
JEFFERSON COUNTY – Leaders in Jefferson County making some progress on changing zoning requirements for future potential wind projects. The Jefferson County Commissioners spent over an hour discussing the topic Tuesday in front of a packed court room. Commissioner Mark Schoenrock said he was glad to see all the public interest. “The gravity of the importance of this decision is apparent to all,” Schoenrock said. “It is a decision that will affect thousands of people through multiple generations.” Commissioner Michael Dux . . . Complete story »
Political winds: wind farm regulations continue to stir up controversy
A meeting was held at the Jefferson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 22, to further discuss wind farm regulations in Jefferson County. The meeting was held in the county courtroom, rather than the commissioners meeting room, to accommodate the anticipated crowd. Landowners Hire Attorney A group of landowners concerned about proposed changes to regulations governing wind farms in Jefferson County have retained the services of attorney Scott Gropp of Gropp Law and Mediation, LLC, a law firm based out of . . . Complete story »
Landowners hire attorney for potential wind farm battle
A group of landowners concerned about proposed changes to regulations governing wind farms in Jefferson County have retained the services of attorney Scott Gropp of Gropp Law and Mediation, LLC, a law firm based out of Wilber. Gropp is no stranger to Jefferson County. He is currently under contract with the county as the public defender. FJN contacted Gropp and he indicated there is no conflict of interest that arises from his contract with the county. On Monday, March 14, . . . Complete story »
