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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 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 »
Decommissioning wind turbines
One of the concerns that led to a moratorium on wind farm applications in Jefferson County is the cost of decommissioning wind turbines after they have outlived their usefulness. On September 15, 2021, Jefferson County Commissioners voted unanimously to institute a six-month moratorium on wind farm applications, feeling it was necessary to review and possibly revise the various policies that govern the placing and operating of wind turbines within the county. County commissioners have made it a priority to ensure . . . Complete story »
Wind energy: points of view
Jefferson County Commissioners held a hearing on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in the courtroom of the Jefferson County Courthouse to give members of the public the opportunity to express their opinions on proposed changes to wind farm regulations. Many different points of views were expressed.More than 200 people attended the meeting and approximately 70 citizens spoke. Due to the number of people who wished to speak, time was limited to three minutes for each, although a number of speakers went . . . Complete story »
Emotions run high at wind farm hearing
Like much of the rest of Nebraska, proposed wind farms in Jefferson County have brought strong opinions and high emotions from both sides of the issue. This was evident during a hearing on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, which lasted more than four hours. The hearing was held in the courtroom of the Jefferson County Courthouse because the regular meeting room of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners was not large enough to accommodate the more than 200 attendees. The hearing . . . Complete story »
Over 70 share opinions on wind energy, moratorium extended
FAIRBURY – A hot-button topic in southeast Nebraska is the addition of wind farms. On Tuesday morning, the Jefferson County Commissioners allowed those with opinions on the topic, to express them. The Jefferson County court room was filled with over 70 people giving thoughts on the issue, both for and against. Current landowners shared their thoughts and experiences, even with curious neighbors from around the state wanting to learn more about what it’s like to live on or near a . . . Complete story »
Hundreds of old wind turbine blades in field near Sidney, NE
Rows of wind turbine blades cut up and sitting in a field just south of Sidney, Nebraska. Two-hundred of them. In the background, turbines just across the border in Colorado where blade disposal is banned at the nearby Logan County Landfill. “Colorado has decreed that they shall not be buried. Somewhere they have to go,” said State Sen. Tom Brewer. Brewer doesn’t want the blades buried or stored in Nebraska either. He introduced LB 775. It would ban their disposal . . . Complete story »
County approves wind energy process
The moratorium is over. In July of 2020, the Burt County Board of Supervisors decided it would accept no applications for wind energy permits until appropriate regulations and fees were finalized. That job finished last week. The county board on Wednesday passed Resolution 2022-05, which puts in place Section 6.03 in the county zoning manual. It outlines the regulations required of a wind energy installation. Wind energy systems, both commercial and small scale, are addressed in the new section. Both . . . Complete story »
