Siting of Wind Energy Development in Nebraska

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.