Heineman said Nebraska recently has made significant advances in wind energy legislation and regulations that cover a range of issues. For example, passage earlier this year of Legislative Bill 1048 — designed to to encourage development of large, privately owned wind farms that would export power to other states without harming the public power utilities in Nebraska — marked the beginning of accelerated wind energy development in the state.
Heineman called Laredo Ridge, which is located about three miles northeast of Petersburg, a huge investment that will help show that the state is on the move in wind energy development.
The project — a $200 million investment — will support about 170 construction jobs. It also will pay nearly $6 million in taxes and fees to the local and state economy over the next 20 years.
“What that really means is jobs,” Heineman said.
Heineman said he expects Nebraska to be a top-10 wind-energy producing state within the next 10 years.
Once completed, more than 80 megawatts of renewable energy — enough to power about 26,000 homes — will be produced at Laredo Ridge. The electricity will be sold under a 20-year purchase agreement to NPPD.
“The partners involved in the project were the first to develop a joint venture between a public entity and a private sector in our state in 2008,” Heineman said in reference to the collaboration between Edison Mission, NPPD and Midwest Wind Energy, which developed the project.
The entities joined forces to construct the Elkhorn Ridge project near Bloomfield. Construction there began in 2008, and it has been producing power for more than a year. The entities also are currently finalizing contracts to build a third wind farm near Broken Bow in Custer County.
Asche said the NPPD board of directors had established a goal of having 10 percent of its customers’ energy needs met by new, renewable energy resources by 2020.
With the combination of its Ainsworth wind farm, Elkhorn Ridge and Laredo Ridge, officials at NPPD expect it will meet about 4 percent of its customers needs from renewable energy sources next year.
Asche said he expects the Petersburg wind farm to be operation by the end of 2010.
