Signs of change on the energy front

I heard the manager of one of the convenience stores lament that money is so tight, lottery players who used to buy $5 worth of tickets are now dropping in only a buck.

He cited the high cost of gasoline as the cause.

Think of that.

Lottery players will trade in one infinitesimal chance at $340 million for an even more infinitesimal chance and few gallons of gasoline.

Maybe it means we're finally getting serious about energy costs.

Those of us who locked in our natural gas prices for the winter shouldn't get too comfortable with thermostats in the 70s; the piper will demand his pay next winter.

Big utilities and industries in the east that have the choice of burning heating oil or natural gas are switching from the higher-priced oil to the relatively lower cost natural gas, driving up heating costs for those of us hooked to the pipeline.

But there are signs we're coming around. A quarter of Nebraska's corn crop is now going toward making energy in the form of ethanol, and more tax breaks for ethanol plants were approved Friday.

Today, Gov. Dave Heineman and other dignitaries were to help dedicate the Nebraska Public Power District's new Wind Energy Facility in north central Nebraska.

The project was built rather quickly, given the go-ahead in August 2004, completed a year later and going online a month ago.

The 32 turbines will generate 60 megawatts of energy, approximately enough to supply 19,000 homes a year. That power will be used by the Omaha Public Power District, Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, Grand Island Utilities and, through the magic of energy marketing, the Jacksonville Electric Authority in Florida.

Yes, some people might object to massive man-made structures breaking up the scenic, rolling Sandhills.

And, there are concerns in other parts of the country, at least, about rare birds being killed by the spinning blades.

But I've got a feeling that the wind facility near Ainsworth will become a tourist attraction for travelers headed to the Niobrara River or the Black Hills, at least.

If NPPD or some other utility offers, I think Southwest Nebraska would be a great place for a wind farm attraction for tourists headed for Denver or Coloradoans headed for Nebraska lakes.