Wind Energy
Nebraska has the 4th greatest wind resource in the nation yet ranks amongst the bottom of wind energy production compared to other states with high wind energy resources.
There are many reasons why Nebraska is lagging behind neighboring states (see state by state comparisons of wind development: http://awea.org/learnabout/publications/factsheets/factsheets_state.cfm) including lack of energy capacity growth and transmission issues, however now Nebraska has a golden opportunity to replace existing and aging coal plants with a mix of energy resources led by wind energy.
Nebraska’s current amount of wind energy developed helps avoid 660,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This number could be significantly increased if wind generation replaces a few of the older coal plants in the state that constantly struggle to comply with Clean Air Act guidelines enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This plan makes sense knowing that Nebraskans consistently poll at about 85-90% in favor of developing the state’s excellent resource (see Nebraska based wind and renewable energy polls below).
Other benefits of increased wind energy development include large rural economic development opportunities including landowner lease payments, local property tax revenue, construction and operations jobs, increased wind manufacturing jobs, low and stable long-term electricity rates, health costs savings from reduced air pollution, and water conservation.
Nebraska Based Wind Energy Studies
October 2012 Securing Nebraska’s Energy and Economic Future:
Creating Jobs, New Economic Opportunities and Health Benefits through Productive Investments in Wind Energy and Energy Efficiency
June 2009 NREL/DOE Wind Energy and Economic Development in Nebraska
Nebraska Based Wind and Renewable Energy Polls
2010 UNL-IANR Views on Agriculture, Energy and Food in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska
2008 UNL-IANR Energy Use and Concerns of Rural Nebraskans
2005 UNL-IANR Rural Nebraskans’ Support for Alternative Energy Sources
2004 American Corn Growers Foundation Survey
2003 Nebraska Public Power District Customer Meeting on Energy Alternatives