Nebraska Wind Farms

Existing and Proposed Wind Projects

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Existing Nebraska Wind Farms

Projects are listed in order of commercial operation)

Missouri Wind Projects, now with it's own page.

Oklahoma Wind Projects, now with it's own page.

Wisconsin Wind Projects, now with it's own page.

Map of Existing and Proposed wind projects in Kansas (PDF-447 kb), Source: Kansas Energy Information Network, July 2009.

Ainsworth Wind Farm

Brown County, Nebraska - This 59.4 MW project came on-line in 2005.  RES Americas served as the EPC construction contractor, while it is owned by Nebraska Public Power District. It consists of 36 Vestas V82, 1.65 MW wind turbines. The project is located around 6 miles south of the town of Ainsworth.

• Ainsworth Wind Farm - NPPD
• Ainsworth Wind Farm - RES Americas
• In the Hills of Nebraska, Change is on the Horizon
  (New York Times, as found on RES Americas web-site, Aug. 4, 2008)

Elkhorn Ridge Wind Farm

near Bloomfield, Knox County, Nebraska - This 81 MW project came on-line in early 2009 and is comprised of 27 Vestas V90, 3.0 MW turbines. The project was developed by Midwest Wind Energy LLC and is owned by Edison Mission Group and the Tenaska group, with power sold to Nebraska Public Power District. The wind farm consists of 27 Vestas V90 (3.0 MW) wind turbines.

• Elkhorn Ridge project profile, Midwest Energy
• Elkhorn Ridge project profile, Edison Mission Group
• Elkhorn Ridge Wind Farm - NPPD
• Elkhorn Ridge Wind Project Producing Power
  (North American Windpower, March 17, 2009)
• NPPD Agrees To PPA From Elkhorn Ridge Project
  (North American Windpower, March 18, 2008)

The Wind Project at Kimball

Kimball, Red Willow County, Nebraska - A 10.5 MW project of the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) came on-line in November 2002.

• The Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) Wind Project - project web-site

Flat Water Wind Project

Richardson County, Nebraska - A 60-MW project that was developed by juwi Wind (formerly JW Prairie Wind Power LLC of Lawrence, KS), but bought out by Gallop Power of Austin, TX and later Gestamp Wind North America of Houston (with the parent company in Spain). This 60-MW project went on-line in December 2010 and consists of 40 GE 1.5 MW turbines. RES Americas handled construction, while the power is sold to Omaha Public Power District via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). 
(February 2011)

• Flat Water Wind Farm, RES Americas, Project Profile
• Flat Water Wind Farm, juwi USA, Project Profile
• $165 million wind farm dedicated near Humboldt
  (Lincoln Journal Star, Feb. 17, 2011)
• Wind energy projects accelerating
  (Omaha World Herald, Dec. 27, 2010)

• Nebraska: juwi-developed wind farm in US moves into construction
  (juwi Media Release, Feb. 5, 2010)
• Construction of Richardson County wind farm on track
  (Lincoln Journal-Star, Oct. 12, 2009)
• OPPD turning to southeast (and solar) to boost capacity
  (Omaha World-Herald, August 16, 2009)
• OPPD buys wind from new Southeast Nebraska farm
  (Plattsmouth Journal, July 10, 2009)

Laredo Ridge Wind Energy Project

Boone County, Nebraska - Laredo Ridge Wind Farm LLC, a project of Midwest Wind Energy LLC and Edison Mission Group, signed a 20 year PPA with Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD). The 80 MW project went on-line at the end of 2010. (April 2011)

• Laredo Ridge Project Quick Facts, NPPD
• Laredo Ridge project profile, Midwest Energy
• Laredo Ridge project profile, Edison Mission Group
• Boone County Wind Farms information, Boone County, Neb.
• Turbines turning near Petersburg
  (Columbus (Neb.) Telegram, April 11, 2011)
• Wind energy projects accelerating
  (Omaha World Herald, Dec. 27, 2010)

• PPA Signed For Laredo Ridge Wind Farm
  (North American Windpower, February 15, 2010)

TPW Petersburg Wind Project

Boone County, Nebraska - The 40.5 MW TPW Petersburg Wind farm was developed by Third Planet Windpower of Incline Village, Nevada. This project consists of 27 GE 1.5 XLE-ESS wind turbines, the power of which is purchased by Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). In December 2011, Gestamp Wind North America acquired the project The project qualified as C-BED and came on-line date in November 2011. enXco Service Corp. announced in February 2012 that they signed an Operations and Maintenance Agreement with the wind farm. (February 2012)

• enXco signs maintenance agreement with TPW Petersburg Wind Farm
  Electric Light & Power, February 2, 2012
• Planned wind farm a boost for economy
  Omaha World-Herald, January 14, 2010

Broken Bow Wind Project

Custer County, Nebraska - This project was originally started by NPPD in 2008 and later awarded to Midwest Wind Energy LLC in 2009 through a bid process. Midwest Wind completed development of the project and later sold it to Edison Mission Energy. The 80 MW project is located just east of Broken Bow, and came on-line in October 2012. The project consists of 50 GE 1.6 MW turbines and is now owned by Edison Mission Energy. Wanzek Construction was the Balance of Plant (BOP) contractor.

The power purchasers for this project will be: NPPD - 47 MW, OPPD - 18, Lincoln Electric System - 10, the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) - 4, and the City of Grand Island - 1 MW.

Benefits: According to a news report, construction activities at this project created an estimated $5.6 million in state sales tax revenues. Over the completed project's 25-year life, it will provide nearly $900,000 in annual property tax and state income tax revenues plus and additional $540,000 in lease royalty payments to the landowners. (October 2012)

• Broken Bow wind farm project profile, NPPD
• Broken Bow project profile, Midwest Energy
• Last Wind Farm for a While?
  (The Kearney Hub, Oct. 17, 2012)
• Wind farm near Broken Bow dedicated, to go online soon
  (Grand Island Independent, Oct. 16, 2012)
• Construction of Towers Complete for Broken Bow Wind Farm Phase 1
  (The Sand Hills Express, August 17, 2012)
• Construction nearly done on Broken Bow wind farm turbines
  (The Kearney Hub, August 15, 2012)
• Huge crane putting tops on first turbine towers
  (The Kearney Hub, June 2, 2012)
• Central Nebraska’s first wind farms
  (The Kearney Hub, May 13, 2012)
• Wind farm requires tons of materials, miles of roads, cables
  (The Kearney Hub, May 12, 2012)
• Broken Bow Wind project will generate electricity, jobs, land lease payments
  (The Kearney Hub, May 12, 2012)
• New wind farm near Broken Bow could power 25K homes
  (The Kearney Hub, November 1, 2011)
• NPPD looks at buying wind power in Broken Bow
  (Columbus (Neb.) Telegram, June 13, 2011)
• No neat rows: Near Broken Bow, wind turbines will be scattered across acres of pasture
  (The Kearney Hub, Nov. 13, 2010)
• Wind farm near Broken Bow starts construction Oct. 2011
  (The Kearney Hub, Sept. 29, 2010)
• NPPD moving forward with Broken Bow wind farm
  (The Kearney Hub, Jan. 22, 2010)
• Economy, federal rules drive wind power future
  (The Kearney Hub, Nov. 10, 2009)
• NPPD working out details for buying wind energy
  (The Kearney Hub, Aug. 15, 2009)

Crofton Bluffs Wind Farm

Knox County, Nebraska - This project was a joint effort between NPPD and Edison Mission Group. There are 22 Vestas V90 wind turbines - some sized at 1.8 MW and others at 3 MW - at this site. In all, the project is capable of producing 42 MW of power. From this project, NPPD will take 20 MW, Omaha Public Power District 13 MW, the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska four, and Lincoln Electric System three. This wind farm will be on-line by the end of 2012. (August 2012)

• Crofton Bluffs project profile, NPPD
• Man arrested in theft from Crofton Bluffs Wind Farm
  (Omaha World-Herald, Dec. 7, 2012)
• Wind turbine catches fire at Crofton Bluffs wind farm
  (Lincoln Journal Star, Oct. 26, 2012)
• Crofton Bluffs wind project may be operational soon
  (Omaha World-Herald, Aug. 31, 2012)
• Crofton: Work On New Wind Farm Begins
  (Yankton, SD Press & Dakotan, May 8, 2012)
• Crofton Bluffs dream comes true
  (Norfolk Daily News, May 7, 2012)
• Construction begins on Crofton Bluffs wind farm
  (Lincoln Journal Star, April 20, 2012)
• LES eyes more wind generation
  (Lincoln Journal Star, September 16, 2011)

Proposed Nebraska Wind Projects

Prairie Breeze Wind Project

Antelope & Boone Counties, Nebraska - Invenergy is in the process of developing a 200 MW, 133 turbine project that will be the largest wind farm in Nebraska. In October 2010, it was announced that the Nebraska Power Review Board granted the project conditional approval to allow export of power from this project. In December 2012, it was announced that the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) had signed a PPA to purchase power from this project. The agreement would cover 25 years and gives OPPD the option to purchase the project after 10 years (when the tax credits, which publicly-owned OPPD is not eligible to use, expire). NPPD is also eyeing a PPA with Invenergy for up to 75 MW of power. While the wind farm is scheduled to be operational by January 2014. (January 2013)

• Other news on Prairie Breeze Wind Farm
  (Elgin Review, Current)

• Wind projects can proceed after Congress extends tax credit
  (Omaha World Herald, Jan. 4, 2013)

• OPPD aims to double its wind energy
  (Omaha World Herald, Dec. 11, 2012)

• Wind energy projects accelerating
  (Omaha World Herald, Dec. 27, 2010)

• Prairie Breeze is Export-Approved Wind Farm
  (Kansas Farmer, Dec. 20, 2010)

• Prairie Breeze Wind Center Update
  (Elgin Review, Dec. 16, 2010)

Conestoga Wind Project

Cass Counties, Nebraska - This project is under development by Midwest Wind Energy LLC. The project is expected to be around 80 MW. (April 2011)

• Conestoga project profile, Midwest Energy

Cherry County Wind Project

Cherry County, Nebraska - A 100 MW wind farm filed for interconnection in the Southwest Power Pool in Spring 2010. The developer and other details of the project is not yet known by KEIN. (May 2010)

Broken Bow II Wind Project

Custer County, Nebraska - Broken Bow II will be the second phase of to the Custer County project. This phase was also developed by Midwest Wind Energy LLC. NPPD will purchase 30 MW of this power, while OPPD will purchase 45 MW. This phase will have a capacity of 75 MW and has an estimated cost of around $110 million. It is likely that this project will be built in 2013, now that the PTC has been renewed. (January 2013)

• Extension of federal tax credit removes ‘stumbling block’ for Broken Bow Wind II
  (The Kearney Hub, Jan. 8, 2013)
• NPPD customers' rates are on the rise
  (The Kearney Hub, Sept. 24, 2012)

Dawson County Wind Project

Dawson County, Nebraska - Geronimo Energy is in the process of developing a wind farm in Dawson County. A meteorological tower has been collecting data at a site seven miles northeast of Farnam. The proposed wind farm will span 20,000 acres between Highways 21 and 47 and include around 50 towers producing 100 MW of power. Geronimo Energy plans to have the project ready by 2015-16. (August 2012)

• County is treasure trove of wind energy
  (Gothenburg (Ne.) Times, November 21, 2012)
• Tower gathering data for Dawson County Wind Farm
  (Gothenburg (Ne.) Times, August 23, 2012)
• Dawson County board approves wind tower
  (The Kearney Hub, Sept. 2, 2011)
• Wind farm takes next spin
  (Gothenburg (Ne.) Times, August 4, 2011)
• Dawson planners OK wind farm test permit
  (The Kearney Hub, July 22, 2011)
• Minnesota company may test Dawson Co. wind
  (The Kearney Hub, July 14, 2011)
• Plans for wind farm blow into Dawson County
  (Gothenburg (Ne.) Times, November 17, 2010)

Rattlesnake Creek Wind Project

Dixon County, Nebraska - TradeWind Energy of Lenexa, Kans. is working on a 200 MW project in NE Nebraska near the towns of Allen, Emerson, and Wakefield. They currently estimate this project to be ready in 2012. The Impact Analysis of this project, through the Southwest Power Pool, is complete and the project remains on-schedule. (October 2012)

• Rattlesnake Creek Wind Project - TradeWind Energy Fact Sheet

Volkswind Nebraska Wind Project

Gage and Jefferson Counties, Nebraska - Volkswind USA, a German company with a U.S. office in Portland, OR, is in the process of developing a 100 MW project along the Gage and Jefferson County border in SE Nebraska.  Development for the project began in 2009 when Volkswind began working with a landowners group consisting of 65 families called  136 Wind Energy Group. It's not currently known by KEIN whether this project is the same as the Jefferson County project described below. (October 2012)

• Feasibility Cluster Study for Generation Interconnection Requests; January 2011, SPP
• 'They know how energetic it is'
  (Beatrice Daily Sun, October 27, 2012)
• Volkswind officials ready for next step to wind farm
  (Beatrice Daily Sun, March 24, 2012)

Steele Flats Wind Project

Jefferson & Gage Counties, Nebraska - NextEra Energy Resources plans a 75 megawatt project in Jefferson and Gage counties. The project will contain 44 turbines and will interconnect to the grid at a substation near Steele City. The power from this project will be purchased by NPPD and construction will begin in 2013. This is likely the same project that filed for interconnection with the Southwest Power Pool in early 2011 near Steele City with a projected December 2013 on-line date. (February 2013)

• Facility Study For Generation Interconnection Request GEN-2011-018; July 2012, SPP
• NextEra discusses wind farm with landowners
  (Beatrice Daily Sun, March 6, 2013)
• Florida firm will build wind farm in Jefferson, Gage counties
  (Lincoln Journal-Star, February 15, 2013)

Johnson County Wind Project

Johnson County, Nebraska - This 60 megawatt project of Invenergy received Special Use Permits by the Johnson County Commission in March 2012. The project is expected to consist of 37 turbines and will be located the towns of Sterling and Crab Orchard. (April 2011)

• Johnson County Wind Farm Moves Forward
  (Many Signals Communications (Hiawatha, KS), March 15, 2012)

Madison County Wind Project

Madison County, Nebraska - A 100.5 MW wind farm filed for interconnection in the Southwest Power Pool in early 2010. The developer and other details of the project is not yet known by KEIN.
(May 2010)

North Fork Wind Project

Knox & Cedar Counties, Nebraska - This project was developed by Midwest WindEnergy LLC. The project is expected to be around 1,200 to 1,500 MW in size. (April 2011)

• North Fork project profile, Midwest Energy

Burr Ridge Wind Project

Otoe Counties, Nebraska - This project is under development by Midwest Wind Energy LLC. The project is expected to be around 80 MW in size. (April 2011)

• Burr Ridge project profile, Midwest Energy

Thayer County Wind Project

Thayer Counties, Nebraska - Aether Energy LLC (also known as Aksamit Resource Management) of Texas has put up multiple met towers in Thayer County, one a mile NE of Byron, along Highway 8, just north of the Kansas border. In October 2012 they received a determination of no hazard for a met tower East of Byron, perhaps the same one as reported in June 2011. (October 2012)

• Thayer County landowners tour Kansas wind farm
  (Hebron Journal, Feb. 26, 2013)
• Second tower to measure wind in Thayer County
  (Hastings (Neb.) Tribune, June 22, 2011)
• Aether LLC To Install 'Met' Tower For Wind Project
  (The Geneva Nebraska Signal, June 16, 2011)

Wayne County Wind Project

Wayne County, Nebraska - A 99 MW wind farm filed for interconnection in the Southwest Power Pool in Spring 2010. This is likely a project of Way Wind LLC of Madison, Wisconsin. In June 2011, it was announced that Way Wind and Nordex USA were teaming to develop a project between 99 and 120 MW. The developer and other details of the project is not yet known by KEIN.
(May 2010)

• Facility Study For Generation Interconnection Request GEN-2011-027; July 2012, SPP
• Large wind farm planned in Wayne County
  (Lincoln Journal-Star, June 21, 2011)
• Way Wind and Nordex USA announce new venture in Nebraska
  (Nordex USA News Release, June 21, 2011)

Winside Wind Project

near Winside, Wayne County, Nebraska - A 120 megawatt project filed for interconnection with the Southwest Power Pool in early 2011. The planned location is near Winside and lists a December 2012 on-line date. As of August 2012, this project was pending an impact analysis. (August 2012)

• Facility Study For Generation Interconnection Request GEN-2011-027; July 2012, SPP

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