Huge wind farm planned for western Nebraska
Energy developer planning 600- to 800-turbine wind farm in western Nebraska's Banner County
Big enough to power 500,000 homes
Thursday April 16, 2009,
HARRISBURG, Neb. (AP) -- A Chicago-based energy developer is planning to construct a $60 million wind farm in western Nebraska's Banner County.
Midwest Wind Energy officials say the 60,000- to 100,000-acre wind farm will have 600 to 800 turbines generating 2,000 megawatts of electricity. One megawatt is roughly enough to power 200 to 300 American homes for a day.
The planned wind farm would be the largest in Nebraska.
Elkhorn Ridge, an 80-megawatt wind farm near Bloomfield, was put into operation last month. It's currently the state's largest.
Midwest developed that project, and it's in the process of developing wind farms in Otoe, Cass, Holt and Boone counties.
Midwest Vice President Mike Donahue says the company has been working with landowners and local officials for the Banner County project.
Nebraska officials have said the lack of a transmission grid to move electricity from wind farms to utilities has been a hindrance to developing wind power in the state.
Donahue says the Banner County project is designed big to encourage grid improvements. He says the project could take a decade to complete.
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