Nebraska Wind Energy Projects Proceeding

Congress’ extension of a wind energy tax credit has paved the way for two large wind farm projects in Nebraska to proceed as planned.

The state’s two largest public power utilities last month approved the wind projects, conditional on the renewal of the tax credit, which was included in legislation passed Tuesday to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff.

The Omaha Public Power District now plans to buy 200 megawatts from the proposed Prairie Breeze Wind Energy Center near Elgin in northeast Nebraska.

The Nebraska Public Power District is also looking to Prairie Breeze to provide as much as 75 megawatts of renewable energy and is considering buying from a proposed wind farm near Steele City in southeast Nebraska’s Jefferson County.