Clean Energy Powers Nebraska’s Economy 

Clean Energy Powers Nebraska’s Economy 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2024  

CONTACT:
Josh Moenning 
josh@newpowernebraska.org  
402-580-2471 

Lincoln, NE – The current state of clean energy in Nebraska was unveiled in Lincoln today, at an event hosted by New Power Nebraska. Area officials, civic leaders, and landowners gathered to discuss the specifics at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s Innovation Campus.  

According to data released last week by the American Clean Power Association, Nebraska currently hosts 3,647 MW of operational wind, solar, and battery capacity, enough to power nearly one million homes. By comparison, this puts Nebraska ahead of neighbor Missouri (2,538 MW), in line with South Dakota (3,828 MW) and Wyoming (3,478 MW), but well below Colorado (7,833 MW), Kansas (9,158 MW) and Iowa (13,391 MW). Nebraska has 799 MW of clean energy projects in the pipeline, and 13 MW worth of projects currently under construction. The clean energy economy has led to seven billion dollars of total investment in the state, providing property, state, and local taxes totaling $20.8 million every year. 

“These numbers tell a couple stories,” said Josh Moenning, executive director of New Power Nebraska. “First, we have a strong clean energy foundation from which to build. Clean energy provides a growing share of the electricity consumed by Nebraskans while providing new jobs in the countryside and helping revitalize rural communities. Second, the capacity for future growth is knocking loudly at our door; the demand for new energy is tremendous. What we don’t allow in Nebraska, our neighbor states will quickly pick up. Not embracing these opportunities means losing out on new jobs, new farm income, and new tax revenues that help lower the property tax burden for everyone.”

Left to right: Josh Moenning, Kevin Connot, Leah Barrett, & Eric Thompson spoke at New Power Nebraska’s State of Clean Energy Press Conference.

Speaking to the growth of Nebraska solar was Ryan Zimmerman, whose family farm in Pierce County is soon to become the largest solar site in the Midwest. The site, known as the Pierce County Energy Center, is being developed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. Pierce County Energy Center will have the capacity to generate up to 420 MW of solar energy and have the capacity to store up to 170 MW of energy when it goes online in 2027.   “Farming is all about continuous improvement and evolving with the latest technology,” said Zimmerman. “We have a reputation for feeding the world, and soon, we will be powering it too.”  

The solar project’s 13-county regional economy is expected to see a $316 million boost during Pierce County Energy Center’s two-and-a-half-year construction phase, according to Dr. Eric Thompson, economics professor and Director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who authored an economic impact study on the project. The land used to host the solar project is projected to generate a 377% increase per acre as opposed to cropland ($2,870/acre for solar vs $601/acre for cropland).

In addition to solar projects, Nebraska is seeing benefits from wind energy, particularly on the labor front. Wind energy developments such as Thunderhead Wind Energy Center in Antelope, Holt, and Wheeler Counties are producing a need for skilled labor in rural markets.   

Dr. Leah Barrett, President of Northeast Community College in Norfolk, which offers the only wind energy training program in the state, says these training programs are some of her most popular. “Our wind tech graduates consistently go on to good-paying, secure jobs. When you think that the operating lifetime of one wind farm is 30-40 years, these really are jobs for life,” Barrett said. 

Local school districts are often the beneficiaries of renewable energy projects, according to Kevin Connot, former board member of Allen Consolidated Schools in Dixon County. “Our school district saw a substantially lower levy in the years after the Rattlesnake Wind Project went online,” Connot said. “We can attribute it directly to the extra $600,000 in taxes paid by the wind farm that go directly to the school district.”  

Jim Koenig from Antelope County spoke to the positive effect on land values he has seen from wind development. “When you see land listings and there’s a wind tower in the corner, that makes the price of that property worth way more. In our rural area, this is the first and only thing where money from somebody else comes to us. It’s been a real economic boom for the county.” 

To speak with a New Power Nebraska representative, please contact Josh Moenning at 402-580-2471 or josh@newpowernebraska.org.  

### 

About New Power Nebraska New Power Nebraska is a coalition that aims to shine light on the benefits that renewable energy generation brings to Nebraska’s communities and rural places. Wind and solar energy benefits Nebraskans and can help power its dynamic manufacturing and agribusiness economy. Renewables bring new jobs to rural areas, generate new income opportunities for farmers, and add significant new tax revenue for schools and local governments. We invite you to join our effort to support the growth of Nebraska’s renewable energy industry and the economic benefits that will follow. 

About the American Clean Power Association  The American Clean Power Association (ACP) is the leading voice of today’s multi-tech clean energy industry, representing energy storage, wind, utility-scale solar, clean hydrogen and transmission companies. ACP is committed to meeting America’s national security, economic and climate goals with fast-growing, low-cost, and reliable domestic power. Follow ACP on LinkedInInstagramFacebook, and Twitter, and learn more at cleanpower.org

Join Our Alliance

    Take action in support of renewables and learn about the economic benefits that will follow the growth of wind and solar energy in Nebraska.