Courtesy Photo/Image

Ground was broken Tuesday near Bloomfield for what will be Nebraska's largest wind power farm.

FREE Mobile Banking NOW AVAILABLE!

It will also be the state's first community-based wind project.

When completed, the Elkhorn Ridge Wind Facility will have 27 wind turbines and generate enough electricity to power 25,000 homes.

“Today, we celebrate the official start of the largest wind energy project to date in Nebraska,” Gov. Heineman said at the groundbreaking. “I want to offer my thanks and appreciation to everyone involved with this project, which will more than double Nebraska’s wind power capacity.

The wind power industry is in the infant stage in Nebraska but holds real promise, Heineman said.

“Some of Nebraska’s emerging and fastest growing industries are those in the field of renewable energy,” he said. “Nebraska is building a comprehensive renewable portfolio thanks to recent investments in expanded ethanol research and production, new investments in biodiesel production, the construction of methane digesters, and new opportunities to harness the wind in powering our homes and businesses.”

The facility is the first project to be developed using provisions enacted during the 2007 legislative session, allowing Nebraska’s publicly-owned utilities to purchase electricity generated by wind turbines owned by community partnerships.

Public entities such as NPPD are not eligible for federal incentives for wind power, so the 2007 state law is important to attract new wind investments to Nebraska. Prior to the bill’s passage, opportunities to develop wind projects weren’t as economically feasible because of the lack of incentives.

If NPPD or other public power districts contract to buy the wind generated electricity, financing can be obtained to build wind farms.

That so-called “C-BED bill” will encourage public-private partnerships that will move Nebraska’s wind industry forward, Heineman said.

The Elkhorn Ridge wind farm will generate 80 megawatts of electricity.

Another C-BED venture announced a few days ago by the Nebraska Public Power District and Juhl Energy Development -- the Crofton Hills Wind Farm planned for Knox County -- will supply 42 megawatts when built next year.

According to the Nebraska Energy Office, Nebraska currently produces just 73 megawatts of wind energy.

Nebraska is the sixth-best state for wind, analysts say.