The Sandhills Task Force (STF) submitted a White Paper entitled Outlining the Need to Address Energy Development and Other Urgent Conservation Priorities for Nebraska’s Sandhills to Governor Ricketts in February 2016 asking him to consider appointing a special Work Group to study and make recommendations relating to the siting of wind energy projects in the Nebraska Sandhills and develop a plan that would address how to protect and preserve the naturalness and beauty of the area.
Late last year, Homer Buell and Mike Kelly, both STF board members, met with Governor Ricketts to discuss the future of the Sandhills and the Governor asked the STF to write the White Paper in response to their discussion. The White Paper can be found on the STF website at www.sandhillstaskforce.org.
Nebraska ranks in the top states for potential wind resources and each year brings additional requests for development of wind farms all over our State including the Sandhills.
The STF, comprised of ranchers, governmental agencies, and conservation organizations, is a non-profit organization that is concerned about the future of the Sandhills. They point out that the Sandhills are the largest intact prairie left in North America. The Sandhills are a jewel of national and international proportions and all Nebraskans have a responsibility to be stewards of this treasure for future generations.
Many counties in Nebraska are looking for direction from the state as to how to balance the development of our state’s wind energy resources while striving to meet our responsibilities of being good stewards.
The STF hopes to continue working with the Governor’s office to outline a framework for a Work Group that would address urgent conservation needs, examine issues, and recommend guidelines and best practices that can be used by local governments, developers, power companies, and others to site future energy projects. This Work Group should solicit input from a wide variety of experts, as well as the general public. The goal should be to find an appropriate balance that promotes our states’ energy potential and preserves our natural resources, wildlife, and scenic beauty. The work group should be composed of individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences that will ensure adequate consideration of all relevant issues.
