by Rick Koelsch
A recent symposium on Siting of Wind Energy Development attracted 200
participants and demonstrated a strong interest in this topic, especially among
Sandhills’ land owners. The planned
construction if Nebraska’s R-Plan Transmission Line (http://www.nppd.com/rproject/ ) from
west of North Platte to Norfolk is intended to improve electrical transmission
reliability in the region. This line
also opens the window for the economic development, including wind energy
development. The transmission line
appears to be a sure thing. The likelihood
of wind energy development is an open ended question with many opinions on both
sides of the issue.
The symposium (presentations recorded at http://extension.unl.edu/wind-energy
) addressed some of the critical issues from the perspective of individual land
owners. Topics addressed included the
positive and negative environmental impacts of wind energy (Steve Williams,
National Wildlife Management Institute), understanding of the infrastructure
and site disruption that accompanies wind development (John Hay, UNL Extension
educator), Kansas Siting Experience with a focus on the Flint Hills (Scott
Allegrucci, representative of former Kansas Governor Sebelius administration)
and wildlife issues (Carline Jezierski, UNL, and Michele Koch, Nebraska Game
and Parks).
However, it was the land owner discussion panel (which we were unable
to record) that demonstrated the depth of the passion in this issue and the
multitude of considerations being weighed.
The panel shared that economics (viewed both positively and negatively by
different individuals), science (value of green energy vs. wildlife impacts),
and values (impact on Sandhills views and aesthetics) were being weighed very
differently by individual land owners.
Will there be a role for Extension is facilitating local discussions
around wind energy development? The conference highlighted our ability to host
discussions around this contentious issue while maintaining a civil and
constructive dialogue. Sandhills Task Force played an important role in setting
the tone for this constructive dialogue and would be an excellent partner in
local discussions. Extension educators
in the vicinity of the R-Line would benefit from evaluating Extension’s local role
in facilitating the many land owner discussions that lie ahead. I think our engagement in this issue will be
seen as an important indicator of Extension’s relevance to the issues critical
to landowners in Nebraska where wind energy development is under consideration.
