NEBRASKA FARMERS, RANCHERS GET INTO WIND

New Nebraska group forms to cash in on wind energy
Nate Jenkins, October 13, 2009 (AP)

"Two of Nebraska's largest agriculture groups have joined forces to make sure farmers and ranchers get a fair shake in wind-energy deals and to break down barriers they say stymie development of big wind farms.

"…[The] Nebraska Energy Export Association…[includes] the Nebraska Farm Bureau and Nebraska Cattlemen…So far, they have been largely silent in the debate over how to make Nebraska a bigger player in the burgeoning wind-energy field but are now getting involved as wind energy increasingly poses both opportunities and problems for their members…[The association] will try to bring farmers and ranchers whose land could hold wind turbines and transmission lines into the discussion over wind energy and position them to benefit from a wind-energy market should one blossom…"

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"The interests of farmers and ranchers are varied and not all focused on increasing Nebraska's presence in the wind-energy market…Helping farmer and ranchers deal with wind-energy developers who sometimes pit farmers against each other as they try to get the cheapest lease rates they can to put turbines on farm and ranch land will be one goal of the new association…The demand for good advice is not as great as one might expect in a state known for its vast, wind-swept plains."

This Colorado scene could be Nebraska someday soon. (click to enlarge)

"The association cited a Harvard University report that says Nebraska ranks fourth among states in wind-energy potential. In actual wind-energy production, Nebraska ranks 22nd…[largely because] Nebraska is the only state where all electric customers are served by publicly owned utilities…The state's public-power districts have been slow to invest in wind power because [they are not eligible for federal incentives and therefore wind] is more expensive than generating electricity with coal…

"…[The new association] will try to topple wind-energy barriers so Nebraska can compete should an export market for wind energy develop…[The association will address] the lack of a public-private financing mechanism to help build transmission lines so wind energy could eventually be exported out of Nebraska…[but will not call for] using revenue from public-power bills to build transmission lines estimated to cost billions of dollars…"