Nebrska's wind power potential

With the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day this week, I am reminded about the considerable potential Nebraska has to move our country forward along the road to a prosperous, green energy economy -- with wind.

While wind energy is just one type of clean energy we produce, it shows a lot of promise in Nebraska. Our state is 4th for potential wind energy development--probably no surprise to Nebraskans who grow up on the windy Great Plains--yet we rank 24th among states in wind energy actually generated.

Good Strides

Nebraska has made some good recent strides in wind energy development that are benefitting our economy, environment and the quality of life we Nebraskans enjoy.

Wind power projects have created highly-skilled jobs in manufacturing, construction, and maintenance. Wind farms have put extra cash in farmers' pockets through new lease payments and they have beefed up the tax base of rural communities. Already, the wind power we produce is offsetting emissions of more 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually that would have come from traditional power plants.

Recovery Bill Financed Wind Energy

Yet more can be done to close the gap between the state's wind power potential and its actual production. This is an issue of great importance to me and essential for any future energy legislation worked on in Congress.

Last year, I helped move the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act forward to create and save jobs, invest in needed infrastructure improvements and turn our economy around. Among its many impacts across Nebraska, this bill certainly has helped develop some of our wind energy potential.

The American Wind Energy Association says that the recovery bill has saved about 40,000 jobs in America. It saved them mainly by providing financing for wind projects that had faced uncertainty after the near collapse of our economy in the fall of 2008.

Also, the economic recovery bill has provided $3.4 billion in grants for 100 smart grid projects that will promote advanced transformers and load management devices that are crucial for getting more wind energy onto our nation's energy grid.

More Work Ahead

Still, more will need to be done for Nebraska to take full advantage of its vast wind potential that the National Renewable Energy Lab says could provide for the state's electricity needs 120 times over.

The Nebraska Unicameral helped recently by passing state Senator Chris Langemeier's bill. It allows private companies to generate wind power in Nebraska for export to other states. That will lead to more private investment in wind power. Next, we need to build up the nation's electricity grid to get that wind-generated electricity from the Plains to the Coasts.

Energy Superhighway Needed

Last year, I introduced an energy bill -- The SMART Energy Act -- which includes provisions to help build this national electricity grid that I call an interstate Energy Superhighway. The bill would spur investment in extra high-voltage electricity transmission facilities; incorporate of smart grid technologies; and provide rebated tariffs for renewable energy. When built, the Energy Superhighway could enable Nebraska windmills to generate electricity for the nation's urban centers.

I also am continuing to explore ways to help our consumer-owned utilities in Nebraska take advantage of renewable energy incentives that private companies have had access to for years. It just makes sense that Nebraska electricity consumers should take full advantage of our wind resources which are clean, green energy.

Working together, we can develop more made-in-Nebraska wind power, which will benefit our state's economy and consumers, be good for the entire planet, and be a contributor in leading America to a more energy independent, environmentally friendly future. It's win-win-win with wind.