LINCOLN — A bill to ease wind development passed relatively unnoticed as the end of a filibuster-full legislative session ended.
The measure would make it easier for private wind energy companies to gain access in Nebraska.
The hope is to make Nebraska a powerhouse when it comes to wind energy, providing potentially billions of dollars in revenue and hundreds of jobs.
The measure has some support among rural senators, including Al Davis of the 43rd District.
“In the long haul, that might have significant impact of rural Nebraska,” he says. “We have good wind resources here, and we have a lot of land.”
“There’s jobs, there’s property tax money there, and there’s landowner payments,” Davis continues. “In many respects it looks like a real win for rural Nebraska if we can get something done with it, I was very supportive.”
The measure keeps allocation decisions with local government and the same eminent domain protections for land owners that they currently have.
Still, there are detractors. Some worry about the potential environmental impact of wind farms and whether it really is a reliable energy source.
All major public power districts have remained neutral on the issue.
