Ranchers consider wind energy

by North Platte Bulletin Staff - 2/24/2009

The Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska recently hosted an informational meeting on wind energy that drew 60-plus people.

"Making significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions while providing reliable and reasonably-priced electricity to meet a growing need will be one of the biggest, and perhaps most expensive challenges the electric industry has ever faced," said John Richards of Nebraska Public Power District, while he gave a slide presentation on potential wind development.

Rising fuel costs, a growing demand for electricity and future policy are three items that are impacting traditionally low electric rates.

"You currently pay less for electricity in Nebraska for several reasons," Richards said, "but one is because Nebraska is the only totally public power state in America.

As a public power provider, NPPD’s loyalty is to their customers, not stockholders, he said. Decisions are made at the state level and costs for electric service are kept at the forefront.

Richards said NPPD wants to ensure their customers have sufficient, reliable energy in the future. However, several challenges could dramatically raise rates. This is why NPPD is currently looking at getting more involved in the Wind Power industry.

The American Wind Energy Association puts Nebraska sixth among the states for wind energy potential, as measured by annual energy potential in the billions of kilowatts. Many land owners were interested in what the push for turbine wind generators could mean for them.

"Ranchers are familiar with wind power," said Arthur County rancher, Bob Rothwell. "We have been watering cattle and livestock with windmills for a lot of years. It wasn't that long ago that the old house on our ranch was powered by a wind generated battery storage system.”

Nebraska Farmer's Union president John Hansen presented information about wind projects that NEFU and NPPD have worked together on. Hansen also provided up to date information about current and future projects.

The latest accomplishment of his effort was to lead a coalition of organizations in support of the Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) legislation that set the stage for the Bloomfield/Crofton Wind Farm.

“Nebraskans worked together to fashion a unique wind development... while enhancing the benefits of our unique public power state,” Hansen said.

Ownership in the Bloomfield/Crofton Wind Farm is structured so all landowners where wind turbines are sited are offered an ownership optiona, under the terms of the Nebraska Rural Community Based Energy Development Act.

The act requires that at least 33 percent of the power payments flow to Nebraska residents during the initial 20-year agreement.

"There have been land owners who have signed away their rights without knowing it until it is too late,” Hansen said.

He urged landowners to know what and who they are dealing with.