Nebraska Wind Power - Anyone Interested? (Omaha: co-op, live, cost)

[Fyrn]

"At a time when renewable energy is all the rage, one of the windiest states in the nation seems unlikely to spur new projects because of a tight budget with little wiggle room.

State senators introduced measures Tuesday to provide tax credits, teachers, a task force and other ways to promote alternative energy such as wind power, solar power and natural gas.

Gov. Dave Heineman has told lawmakers that state government must tighten its belt as the stock market plummets and tax revenue falls."

-January 20,2009 ANNA JO BRATTON / The Associated Press

According to the American Wind Energy Association, Nebraska is ranked sixth in the nation with the greatest energy potential from wind power. In 2007, more than 200 million kilowatthours were generated by wind energy in Nebraska.

We need renewable energy to be a priority!! It will help bring clean and renewable energy into a state that has the ability to create it!

Help this become a priority by sending a letter to Nebraska State Governor Dave Heineman and by signing this petition.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Hel...newable-Energy

[SCGranny]

Thank you, Fyrn!

[Fyrn]

No problem!!! Please send it on!!

[greatsolar]

This newsletter features events, news and green
happenings in Nebraska. If you have anything green that you want to
share with other folks across the state, send it to me so I can
include it for the next time. Please feel free to share this e-mail
with anyone interested in learning more about sustainable living
and clean energy.

EVENTS:

LINCOLN GREEN BY DESIGN MEETING
Tuesday, May 12th 12:00-1:30pm
LES Training room 11th & "O" Lincoln

NEBRASKA ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION SPRING 2009 CONFERENCE
"BUILDING OUR WIND PORTFOLIO"
Wednesday, May 13th 12:00 -5:00pm
Ainsworth, NE
Program includes a tour to the wind farm in Ainsworth from 5 to 7pm
Nebraska Economic Developers Association - NEDA

NATURAL BUILDING & RENEWABLE ENERGY TOUR
WORKSHOP ON WHEELS TOUR OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA
Biofuels operation, wind turbine, & straw-bale home and cabin sites
will be visited. Call or e-mail ASAP to reserve a seat!
Saturday, May 16th 8:00-8:00pm
Joyce Coppinger (402) 483-5135
jc10508@windstream.net

NEWS:

NET METERING PASSED FINAL VOTING
The net metering bill (LB436) to mandate a statewide legislation to
require all utilities to buy electricity from small scale renewable
energy sources passed with a final voting of 46-0 in the unicameral.
Unicameral Update: Renewable energy metering passes

NPPD TO SPONSOR TWO TEACHER COURSES THIS SUMMER
NPPD is offering to cover tuition expenses for any middle or high
school teachers who may be interested in taking energy courses at
Peru State College and UNK. Call Diana Luscher (308) 236-2230
Energy Education

RURAL COOPERATIVE TO BUILD SOLAR PLANT
TRI-STATE Generation, a wholesale supplier to 44 rural electric
utilities in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska will build a
30 MW solar power plant in Springer, NM in April 2010. The solar
plant will produce enough power to supply 9,000 homes and will be the
first solar power plant in the U.S developed by a rural cooperative.
"Tri-State is committed to renewable energy in our resource planning
that brings value to our member cooperatives across the four states
we serve" Ken Anderson-General Manager. "It is a significant venture
for Tri-State that meets several objectives identified by our board
of directors", " it is noteworthy that Tri-State first solar project
will be among the largest solar photovoltaic projects in the world"
said Anderson.

NPPD PRESIDENT RON ASCHE HAS DOUBTS ON WIND POWER
Asche has doubts on wind power - News - Local - The Columbus Telegram - Columbus, Nebraska's Community Newspaper


To share your comments or to request additional information in the
newsletter, write to solar@nebraskagreenenergy.com or call (308)
293-3407

[backstaber]

thank you -there is no common law on wind power- if neighbors want it they have to ,
leave corp!

[roots'nbulbs]

So...the downside of wind power is the huge, initial investment, massive maintenance costs, and its unreliability. And, it is almost insurmountable to transfer from the present system(s)???

In terms of "one step at a time," I have this question. How is the wind power project at Ainsworth working in relation to these problems?

[Gunluvver2]

Newsflash. . . wind has uses other than generating electricity.

GL2

[SCGranny]

Originally Posted by Gunluvver2

Newsflash. . . wind has uses other than generating electricity. GL2

Well, yeah; pumping water for one. I'd like to see a turbine do BOTH, actually... What else were you thinking of, Gunluvver2?

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by SCGranny

Well, yeah; pumping water for one. I'd like to see a turbine do BOTH, actually... What else were you thinking of, Gunluvver2?

****************************
Yes Granny pumping water is one good use for wind power.

The Dutch were using it several hundred years ago for grinding grain.

Wind can generate electricity but instead of adding that electricity to the grid use it in Electrolysis to make pure Hydrogen and Oxygen. Hydrogen can be stored and shipped. Think of Hydrogen as a "battery" for storing wind power.

Wind can be used to compress air. I outlined a use for old missile silos in a thread I started several months ago.

In many parts of the country the electric grid may be miles away from where you live. However chances are pretty good that the wind blows at least a few hours every day.

One novel use for wind power is pumping water to reservoirs at a higher elevation and using the stored up water to generate Hydroelectricity.

I am working on a couple new designs for wind power. I plan on patenting them as soon as I get the bugs out. I get really pi**ed off when I see the huge wind towers that cost million$ as the ONLY solution to using WIND.

Engineers are often locked into the mindset of percentages of efficiency. They get all ga ga over a wind turbine design that is 5% more efficient than another design. Even if the less efficient design can generate electricity/whatever at a much lower cost the so called superior technology is adopted.

There are hundreds of good ideas out there but getting the money to go ahead with them is very difficult.

GL2

[Infinergy]

Its about time Nebraska joined the Renewable Energy Club, at least a little bit. Only projects which qualify for USDA - REP grants and the Federal Rebates make economic sense right now