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Jun 9, 2009

More interesting news about Nebraska’s wind

Nebraska wind power

Nebraska ranks sixth in the nation in wind energy potential but has been slow to develop projects. The state has 73 operational wind turbines with a total capacity of about 153 megawatts. The average annual output could power about 46,500 homes. Here are the locations of the turbines.

BUILT:

* Elkhorn Ridge wind farm near Bloomfield is the largest wind farm in the state in terms of energy generation. Its 27 turbines produce 81 megawatts.

* Ainsworth Wind Energy Facility, owned and operated by the Nebraska Public Power District, has 36 turbines. Total generation capacity is 60 megawatts.

* Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska Wind Project near Kimball is owned by MEAN, a wholesale electricity supplier based in Lincoln. Its seven turbines generate 10.5 megawatts. MEAN also is soliciting proposals to build 30 megawatts of wind generation in the southwest Nebraska-Colorado area.

* Lincoln Electric System has two turbines on the northeast edge of Lincoln. Built in 1998-99, the total generation capacity is 1.3 megawatts. LES also gets six megawatts from the Elkhorn Ridge project.

* Omaha Public Power District and Valmont Industries built one demo turbine near Valley. Its maximum capacity is 660 kilowatts. OPPD wants to add 80 megawatts of additional wind power. It has received 12 proposals for projects.

IN THE WORKS:

* Crofton Hills Wind Farm south of Crofton is scheduled to begin operation in 2010. Total generation capacity of the 14 wind turbines will be 42 megawatts.

* Springview could be the site of some experimental wind turbines planned by NPPD. Two turbines were once on the site but were decommissioned in 2007.

* NPPD wants to add up to 80 megawatts at Broken Bow and Petersburg in central and northeast Nebraska, respectively. The utility, which received 20 plus proposals, plans to announce the developer or developers in August.

* A Chicago-based energy developer wants to construct a $60 million wind farm in Banner County in western Nebraska. Midwest Wind Energy officials say the wind farm will have 600 to 800 turbines generating 2,000 megawatts of electricity.

Source: Nebraska Energy Office, LES, OPPD, NPPD, Nebraska Farmers Union


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