06-04-2014 Regional Planning Regular Meeting Packet
Hall County Regional
Planning Commission
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Regular Meeting Packet
Commission Members:
Terry Connick Hall County
Karen Bredthauer Grand Island Vice Chairperson
Julie Connelly Grand Island
Craig Vincent Grand Island
Mark Haskins Hall County
Bill Hayes Doniphan
Dean Kjar Wood River
Dennis McCarty Grand Island
Richard Heckman Cairo
Pat O’Neill Hall County Chairperson
Deb Reynolds Hall County
Leslie Ruge Alda Secretary
Regional Planning Director: Chad Nabity
Planning Technician:
Edwin Maslonka
Planning Secretary:
Rose Rhoads
6:00 PM
City Hall
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Call to Order
Roll Call
A - SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE ITEMS
Individuals who have appropriate items for City Council consideration should complete the Request for
Future Agenda Items form located at the Information Booth. If the issue can be handled administratively
without Council action, notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study
session, notification of the date will be given.
B - RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
This is an opportunity for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items to reserve
time to speak. Please come forward, state your name and address, and the Agenda topic on which you will
be speaking.
DIRECTOR COMMUNICATION
This is an opportunity for the Director to comment on current events, activities, and issues of interest to
the commission.
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Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Regular Meeting
Item .A1
Agenda
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
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REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA AND NOTICE OF MEETING
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
6:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers — Grand Island
1. Call to Order.
This is a public meeting subject to the open meetings laws of the State
of Nebraska. The requirements for an open meeting are posted on the
wall in this room and anyone who would like to find out what those are
is welcome to read through them.
2. Minutes of May 7, 2014.
3.Request Time to Speak.
4.Public Hearing - Concerning adoption of the Hall County 1 & 6 Year Road
Improvement Plan. (C-12-2014HC)
5.Energy Elements – Discussion on Energy Elements for the Cities of Grand
Island and Wood River and Hall County.
Consent Agenda
6.Final Plat – Karle Subdivision – located south of Old Potash Hwy and east
of Monitor Road, in the 2 mile extra territorial jurisdiction of the City Of Grand
Island, in Hall County, Nebraska, consisting of 4.92 acres and (2 Lots).
7.Final Plat – Copper Creek Estates Eighth Subdivision – located south of
Old Potash Hwy and east of Engleman Road, in the City Of Grand Island, in
Hall County, Nebraska, consisting of 13.203 acres and (44 Lots).
8.Directors Report
9.Next Meeting July 2, 2014.
10. Adjourn
PLEASE NOTE: This meeting is open to the public, and a current agenda is
on file at the office of the Regional Planning Commission, located on the
second floor of City Hall in Grand Island, Nebraska.
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Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Regular Meeting
Item E1
Meeting Minutes
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
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THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION OF HALL COUNTY, GRAND ISLAND,
WOOD RIVER AND THE VILLAGES OF ALDA, CAIRO, AND DONIPHAN,
NEBRASKA
Minutes
for
May 7, 2014
The meeting of the Regional Planning Commission was held Wednesday, May 7, 2014, in the
Community Meeting Room - City Hall – Grand Island, Nebraska. Notice of this meeting
appeared in the "Grand Island Independent" April 26, 2014.
Present: Pat O’Neill Les Ruge
Richard Heckman Terry Connick
Mark Haskins Karen Bredthauer
Dean Kjar Bill Hayes
Deb Reynolds Dennis McCarty
Absent: Julie Connelly and Craig Vincent
Other:
Staff:Chad Nabity, Rose Rhoads
Press:
1.Call to order.
Chairman O’Neill called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
O’Neill stated that this was a public meeting subject to the open meetings laws
of the State of Nebraska. He noted that the requirements for an open meeting
are posted on the wall in the room and easily accessible to anyone who may be
interested in reading them.
2. Minutes of April 2, 2014 meeting.
A motion was made by Reynolds and seconded by Ruge to approve the Minutes
of the April 2, 2014 meeting.
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The motion carried with 10 members present and 7 voting in favor (O’Neill,
Haskins, Bredthauer, Connick, Ruge, Reynolds and Heckman) and 3 members
present abstaining (McCarty, Kjar and Hayes).
3.Request Time to Speak.
Chris Helzer (The Nature Conservatory), PO Box 438, Aurora, NE 68818, item
#4.
4.Request for Conservation Easement - Concerning a Conservation Easement – Sections
13 and 14 in Township 9 N, Range 11 W. of the 6th P.M. (C-11-2014HC)
Nabity briefed the commissioners on the reason for the request and Mr. Helzer spoke in
favor of the Conservation Easement.
A motion was made by Bredthauer and seconded by McCarty to approve the
Conservation Easement.
The motion carried with 10 members present and all voting in favor (O’Neill,
McCarty, Reynolds, Haskins, Bredthauer, Heckman, Ruge, Kjar and Connick)
and no member present voting against.
5.Public Hearing - Concerning an amendment to the redevelopment plan for CRA Area 1,
for a Site Specific Redevelopment Plan for 217 N. Locust Street in Grand Island
Nebraska also known as: Masonic Temple Building or “Tower 217”. Resolution No.
2014-06. (C-12-2014GI)
O’Neill opened the Public Hearing.
Nabity reviewed the site specific Redevelopment Plan for 217 N Locust St.
O’Neill closed the Public Hearing.
A motion was made by Ruge and seconded by Hayes to approve the Redevelopment
Plan for 217 N Locust, Resolution No 2014-06.
The motion carried with 10 members present and all voting in favor (McCarty,
Connick, O’Neill, Ruge, Hayes, Reynolds, Heckman, Haskins, Bredthauer and Kjar)
and no member present voting against.
Consent Agenda
6.Final Plat – Little Angel Subdivision – located west of Congdon Ave., and south of E
7th St., in the City Of Grand Island, in Hall County, Nebraska, consisting of .920 acres
and (2 Lots).
7.Final Plat – Ummelville Second Subdivision – located south of E 4th St., and west of
Sky Park Road, in the City Of Grand Island, in Hall County, Nebraska, consisting of
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10.571 acres and (3 Lots).
8.Final Plat – Horizons Second Subdivision – located south of Loup River Rd and west of
130th Rd., in Hall County, Nebraska, consisting of 4.8941 acres and (1Lot).
A motion was made to approve the plats as presented by Bredthauer and seconded by
Reynolds.
The motion carried with 8 members present and all voting in favor (O’Neill,
Reynolds, Hayes, Haskins, Bredthauer, Heckman, Ruge, and Connick) and two
members present abstaining (McCarty and Kjar).
9.Planning Director’s Report
10.Next Meeting June 4, 2014
11. Adjourn
Chairman Pat O’Neill adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m.
___________________________________________
Leslie Ruge, Secretary
By Rose Rhoads
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Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Regular Meeting
Item F1
Adoption of Hall County 1 & 6
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
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Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Regular Meeting
Item J1
Final Plats
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
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May 20, 2014
Dear Members of the Board:
RE: Final Plat – Karle Subdivision.
For reasons of Section 19-923 Revised Statues of Nebraska, as amended, there is
herewith submitted a final plat of Karle Subdivision, located in the City of Grand
Island, in Hall County Nebraska.
This final plat proposes to create 1 lot, a part of the West Half of the Northwest
Quarter of Section 22, Township 11 North, Range 10 West of the 6th P.M., in Hall
County, Nebraska, in the two mile jurisdiction of the City of Grand Island, Hall
County, Nebraska, said tract containing 4.92 acres.
You are hereby notified that the Regional Planning Commission will consider this
final plat at the next meeting that will be held at 6:00 p.m. on June 4, 2014 in the
Council Chambers located in Grand Island's City Hall.
Sincerely,
Chad Nabity, AICP
Planning Director
Cc: City Clerk
City Attorney
City Public Works
City Building Department
City Utilities
Hall County Clerk
Hall County Attorney
Hall County Public Works
Hall County Zoning
Manager of Postal Operations
Baseline Surveying, LLC
This letter was sent to the following School Districts 1R, 2, 3, 19, 82, 83, 100, 126.
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May 20, 2014
Dear Members of the Board:
RE: Final Plat – Copper Creek Estates Eighth Subdivision.
For reasons of Section 19-923 Revised Statues of Nebraska, as amended, there is
herewith submitted a final plat of Copper Creek Estates Eighth Subdivision, located
in the City of Grand Island, in Hall County Nebraska.
This final plat proposes to create 44 lots, on a tract of land comprising a part of
vacated Lots Sixty Nine (69), Seventy (70), Seventy One (71) and Eighty Four (84)
Copper Creek Estates Subdivision, along with a part of the Northwest Quarter
(NW1/4), all in Section Twenty Three (23), Township Eleven (11) North, Range Ten
(10) West of the 6th P.M., in the City of Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska, said
tract containing 13.203 acres.
You are hereby notified that the Regional Planning Commission will consider this
final plat at the next meeting that will be held at 6:00 p.m. on June 4, 2014 in the
Council Chambers located in Grand Island's City Hall.
Sincerely,
Chad Nabity, AICP
Planning Director
Cc: City Clerk
City Attorney
City Public Works
City Building Department
City Utilities
Manager of Postal Operations
Rockwell & Associates
This letter was sent to the following School Districts 1R, 2, 3, 19, 82, 83, 100, 126.
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Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Regular Meeting
Item 1
Energy Elements
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
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EENERGYNERGY EELEMENTLEMENT
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Energy Element
Energy usage in the early 21st Century is becoming a critical issue throughout Nebraska as well as the entire United
States. Our dependency on energy sources that are not renewable has increased significantly over the past 100 years.
Energy usage comes in several forms, such as:
Lighting our homes and businesses
Heating our homes and businesses
Heating our water for homes and businesses
Food preparation
Transportation – both personal and business related
Recreation and Entertainment – vehicular, computers, music, etc.
Irrigating agricultural lands
The 21st Century ushered in an increased concern for energy usage and its impacts on the environment. With the
increased concern for the environment came an increased understanding of the carbon footprint generated by any
one individual as well as striving towards modifying our behavior patterns in order to lessen that footprint. In
addition, the phrase and concept of sustainability has become more widely used, even in the smaller communities of
Nebraska and United States.
Energy and the issues connected to the different sources are becoming more critical every year. The need for the
Energy Element in the Grand Island Comprehensive Development Plan was established by the Nebraska Unicameral
and Governor when LB997 was passed and signed during the 2010 legislative session. All communities and
counties, with the exception of villages, in Nebraska are required to have an energy element in their comprehensive
development plan (if they have one) by January 1 of 2015. This additional requirement forces communities to look
at their energy usage and needs and plan that into the future development of the community. This makes the
comprehensive development plan more comprehensive and therefore more meaningful. The passage of LB 997
appears to be a first step toward new comprehensive plans addressing the entire issue of Sustainability.
SustainabilitySustainability
Sustainability, in today’s discussions, has a number of meanings. According to Webster’s Third International
Dictionary, the verb “sustain” is defined as “to cause to continue...to keep up especially without interruption,
diminution or flagging”. However, the Brundtland Commission Report in 1987,1 described sustainability as
“...development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs”. In other words, sustainability is the ability of the present generation to live without
jeopardizing the ability of future generations to sustain life as we know it today.
Our world’s ability to stabilize and begin to make the switch to cleaner and more renewable resources will aid future
generations with their quality of life. The more renewable energy sources become the norm for our world, the more
likely these sources will be second nature and common place in the future.
Americans have grown to rely heavily on electricity. However, state and federal policies have been increasingly
more insistent on curbing this reliance;
especially, those sources that are produced by
non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil and coal.
Federal policy has set a goal that 20% of all
electricity, by 2030, in the United States be
from renewable sources. Renewable sources
would include solar, wind, water, geothermal
and any number of other sources that have not yet
been discovered or brought to production
levels.
Energy infrastructure
ElectricalElectrical PowerPower
The majority of electrical power in Hall County,
except for the cities of Grand Island and Wood
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River and is supplied by Southern Power District. However, there are portions of Hall County that fall into the
service area of the Grand Island Utilities.
Figure 1
Rural Public Power Districts in Hall County
Source:http://www.powerreview.nebraska.gov/maps/Map%20with%20County,%20PPD%20&%20Co-op%20Boundaries%20_5-1-09_.pdf and
http://www.grand-island.com/index.aspx?page=214
Southern operates over 6,900 miles of distribution lines that are served by 73 substations located throughout the
District's 4,028 square mile service area. Southern purchases all of its power from Nebraska Public Power District
(NPPD) of Columbus, Nebraska.
Our chartered service area extends through the rural areas of seven counties: Adams, Franklin, Hall, Hamilton,
Kearney, Merrick, Phelps, and a small portion of Clay County.
Southern also provides retail electric service to the towns highlighted on the map below.
Source: (http://www.southernpd.com/servicearea.html )
Figure 2
Southern Power District Service Area
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The city of Grand Island is served by Grand Island Utilities which maintains the distribution systems as well as
generation for the city. The City of Wood River maintains their own distribution system while buying power
wholesale through the Nebraska Municipal Power Pool (NMPP).
Electrical Distribution
The overall distribution system is in good condition. Typically the local rural power district continually upgrades the
system and performing needed maintenance.
NaturalNatural GasGas ServiceService
Natural gas is available in parts of Hall County and is supplied by SourceGas.
Energy Use by Sector
This section analyzes the energy use by residential, commercial, and industrial and other users. This section will
examine the different types of energy sources that are utilized by in these different sectors.
ResidentialResidential UsesUses
Within Hall County the residential uses are provided a number of options for both power and heating and cooling.
These include electrical power, natural gas, oil, propane, and wood. The most dominate of the energy sources
available and used by the residents of Hall County is electricity produced from both renewable resources and fossil
fuels.
The use of natural gas, oil, propane and wood will be found typically as heating sources during the winter months.
The type of fuel used will depend a great deal on where a residence is located within the county. Residents located
within the more urban parts of Hall County are more likely to have natural gas heating or electrical furnaces.
Propane and wood stoves are most likely to be found in the rural parts of the county where natural gas infrastructure
is not available.
CommercialCommercial UsesUses
Hall County’s commercial uses also have a number of options for both power and heating and cooling. These
include electrical power (both fossil fuel and renewable resources), natural gas, propane, oil and wood. The type of
energy source is very dependent upon the specific commercial use and the facilities employed to house the use. The
most dominate of the energy sources that are available and used by the residents of Hall County is electricity
produced from both fossil fuels and renewable resources.
The use of natural gas, oil, propane and wood in commercial structures are typically used as heating sources during
the winter months. The type of fuel used will depend a great deal on the type of commercial use and the construction
of the building(s) involved. Similar to residential uses, commercial uses located within the more urban parts of Hall
County are more likely to have natural gas heating or electrical furnaces. Propane and wood stoves are most likely to
be found in the rural parts of the county where natural gas infrastructure is not available. However, in commercial
uses such as repair garages and other uses in larger metal buildings, they may be dependent upon recycling used
motor oils to heat their facilities.
IndustrialIndustrial UsesUses
Hall County’s industrial uses also have a number of options for both power and heating and cooling. These include
electrical power (both fossil fuel and renewable resources), natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, oil and wood. The type
of energy source is very dependent upon the specific industrial use and the facilities employed to house the use. The
Source: (http://www.southernpd.com/servicearea.html )
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most dominate of the energy sources that are available and used by the residents of Hall County is electricity
produced from both fossil fuels and renewable resources.
In some cases, diesel fuel can play a role in both power generation and heating and cooling. This is very dependent
upon how a manufacturing facility is set up and how much electrical power they self-generate via diesel generators.
In most cases, if diesel is used to heat and cool a building then it is done indirectly through the generation of
electricity.
The use of natural gas, oil propane and wood will be found typically as heating sources during the winter months.
The type of fuel used will depend a great deal on the type of industrial use and the construction of the building(s)
involved. Industrial uses located within the more urban parts of Hall County are more likely to have natural gas
heating or electrical furnaces. Propane is most likely to be found in the rural parts of the county where natural gas
infrastructure is not available. However, in smaller industrial uses located in larger metal buildings, they may be
dependent upon recycling used motor oils and such to heat their facilities.
Short-term and Long-term Strategies
As the need and even regulatory requirements for energy conservation increases, residents
of communities and even rural areas will need to:
1.Become even more conservative with energy usage
2.Make use of existing and future programs for retrofitting houses, businesses, and
manufacturing plants
3.Increase their dependence on renewable energy sources.
ResidentialResidential StrategiesStrategies
There are a number of different strategies that can be undertaken to improve energy
efficiency and usage in residences. These strategies range from simple (less costly) to
complex (costly). Unfortunately not all of the solution will have an immediate return on
investment. As individual property owners, residents will need to find strategies that fit into their ability to pay for
savings at the present time.
There are several ways to make a residence more energy efficient. Some of the easiest include:
Converting all incandescent light bulbs to Compact Florescent or LED bulbs
Changing air filters more regularly
Installing additional insulation in the attic
Keeping thermostats set a cooler levels in the winter and higher levels in the summer
Converting standard thermostats to digital/programmable thermostats
Changing out older less efficient Air Conditioners and Furnaces to newer high-efficiency units
Changing out older appliances with new energy efficient appliances
Some of the more costly ways to make a residence more energy efficient include:
New insulation in exterior walls
Addition of solar panels for either electrical conversion and/or water heater systems
Adding individual scale wind energy conversion systems
Installing geothermal heating and cooling system
Installation of energy-efficient low-e windows
CommercialCommercial andand IndustrialIndustrial StrategiesStrategies
Strategies for energy efficiency within commercial and industrial facilities can be more difficult to achieve than
those in for residential uses. Typically, these improvements will require a greater amount of investment due to the
size of most of these facilities.
There are a number of different strategies that can be undertaken to improve energy efficiency and usage in
residences. Again, not all of the solutions will have an immediate return on investment. As individual property
owners, property owners will need to find strategies that will fit into their ability to pay for savings at the present
time.
There are several ways to make a commercial business more energy efficient. Some of the easiest include:
Converting all incandescent light bulbs to Florescent Lights or Compact Florescent Lighting on small fixtures
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Keeping thermostats set a cooler levels in the winter and higher levels in the summer
Converting standard thermostats to digital/programmable thermostats
Installing additional insulation in an attic space
Changing out older less efficient Air Conditioners and Furnaces to newer high-efficiency units
Some of the more costly ways to make a business more energy efficient include:
Installation of energy-efficient windows and/or storefronts
New insulation in exterior walls
Addition of solar panels for either electrical conversion and/or water heater systems
Adding individual scale wind energy conversion systems
Installing geothermal heating and cooling system
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources are those natural resources such as the wind, sun,
water, the earth (geothermal), and even methane (from natural resources or
man-made situations) that can be used over and over again with minimal or no
depletion. The most common sources of renewable energy resources used in
Nebraska is the wind, the sun, the water and/or the earth. The following are
examples of how these renewable resources can be used to reduce our
dependency on fossil fuels.
WindWind
The wind is one of those resources that seem to be in abundance in Nebraska.
Wind is not a new technology in Nebraska; the pioneers that settled in
Nebraska used wind mills for power and to work the water wells on their
farms and ranches.
Wind can be used to produce electricity through the construction of small-scale
or utility/commercial grade wind conversion systems (wind turbines). However,
not all areas of the state have the ideal levels needed to produce electricity on a
utility or commercial level; but the use of small-scale wind turbines on homes
and businesses will work in most parts of Nebraska.
Figure 3:
ANNUAL AVERAGE WIND SPEED AT 80 METERS
NEBRASKA
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The wind quality in Hall County is above average, especially south of the Platte River and into Adams County. The
darker purple areas are the more ideal locations for wind. However, any future wind development will be determined
with the use of meteorological towers used to compile wind data for approximately a one year period prior to
making any future decisions.
SolarSolar
Solar energy has been around for decades and it last hit a high in
popularity in the 1970’s. However, today’s solar energy design is much
more efficient and are more aesthetically pleasing. Some of the aesthetic
improvements have to do with the fact that today’s systems are not as
bulky as their ancestors. Today solar is being used much like wind
turbines, on a small-scale level (home or business) or a much grander
level (solar farms).
Solar energy includes solar water and space heating as well as taking
solar photovoltaic panels to convert the sun’s rays into electricity. Solar
panels can typically produce between 100 and 200 watts per square meter at an installed cost of $7 to $9 per watt,
but these costs are becoming less every year as more solar units are commissioned and new more cost effective
technologies are developed.
Based upon the diagram to the right there is great solar potential in the state of Nebraska. A majority of the state lies
within some of the better areas in the country for solar potential.
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Source: Solar Energy Industries Association
Figure 4:
SOLAR POTENTIAL CONTOURS
GeothermalGeothermal EnergyEnergy
Geothermal energy includes a process where a series of pipes are lowered into vertical cores called heat-sink wells.
The pipes carry a highly conductive fluid that either is heated or cooled by the constant temperature of the ground.
The resulting heat exchange is then transferred back into the heating and cooling system of a home or other
structure. This is call a geothermal heat exchange system or ground source heat pumps. The California Energy
Commission estimates the costs of a geothermal system can earn net savings immediately when financed as part of a
30-year mortgage (Source: American Planning Association, PAS Memo January/February 2009).
MethaneMethane EnergyEnergy
The use of methane to generate electricity is becoming more cost-effective to use within the rural areas of Nebraska.
Methane electrical generation can be accomplished through the use of a methane digester which takes the raw gas,
naturally generate from some form of waste material, and converts the gas into electrical power.
There have been some attempts to take the methane generated from animal manure and convert it into electricity;
most have been successful but were costly to develop. Another approach to methane electrical generation is to tap
into the methane being generated from a solid waste landfill; instead of burning off the methane, it can be piped into
a methane convertor and generated into electricity for operating a manufacturing plant or placed on the overall grid
for distribution.
Methane convertors make use of unwanted gases and are able to produce a viable product. As long as humans need
to throw garbage into a landfill or the production of livestock is required, there will be a source of methane to tap for
electrical generation.
In addition to converting methane into electricity, it can also provide a source of power by replacing natural gas as a
heating source.
RenewableRenewable EnergyEnergy inin HallHall CountyCounty
Renewable energy in Grand Island and the Hall County area will be difficult now and into the future. The reasons
for this difficulty is not rooted in the desire of the local residents or political reluctance but more due to nature itself.
Nature and the lay of the land creates some very difficult situations for the use of wind energy or hydroelectric
generation.
Wind generation will be difficult due to the migratory flyway that covers the Hall County area during a three to four
month period in the spring and fall. Spring is the more critical period since the Hall County area is one of the major
stopovers of the Sandhill Cranes and a limited number of Whooping Cranes. The Whooping Cranes are on the
endangered species list and are protected. In addition, since the Whooping Cranes tend to fly north with the Sandhill
Cranes, the Sandhill Cranes are afforded the same basic protections during this migratory period.
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Any commercial or utility grade wind turbine development would likely need to be taken out of production during
these periods. This shorter production time would likely harm the cost-effectiveness of most wind farms.
Figure 5:
SPRING SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION PATTERN AND PRIMARY NEBRASKA LOCATIONS
Source:
www.cranetrust.org and http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/conservation/wildlife-
viewing/SandhillCranes/where2watchCranes.asp
Hydroelectric generation in Hall County is essentially not possible due to the flatter topography found throughout
the county. There are few to no areas that could be dammed up in order to create a large enough water reservoir to
power the turbines.
However, the other types of renewable energy sources are possible within Hall County, including geothermal,
methane, and solar. Solar may create an issue near the primary migratory areas of Hall County.
Energy Programs in Nebraska
The following provides a basic history and description of some newer programs in Nebraska; interested parties
should contact the State of Nebraska Energy Office or their local public power district.
The following information is an excerpt from the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.
C-BEDC-BED ProgramProgram
In May 2007, Nebraska established an exemption from the sales and use tax imposed on the gross receipts from the
sale, lease, or rental of personal property for use in a community-based energy development (C-BED) project. The
Tax Commissioner is required to establish filing requirements to claim the exemption. In April 2008 L.B. 916 made
several amendments to this incentive, including: (1) clarified C-BED ownership criteria to recognize ownership by
partnerships, cooperatives and other pass-through entities; (2) clarified that the restriction on power purchase
agreement payments should be calculated according to gross* and not net receipts; (3) added language detailing the
review authority of the Tax Commissioner and recovery of exempted taxes; and (4) defined local payments to
include lease payments, easement payments, and real and personal property tax receipts from a C-BED project.
A C-BED project is defined as a new wind energy project that meets one of the following ownership conditions:
For a C-BED project that consists of more than two turbines, the project is owned by qualified owners with no
single qualified owner owning more than 15% of the project and with at least 33% of the power purchase
agreement payments flowing to the qualified owner or owners or local community; or
For a C-BED project that consists of one or two turbines, the project is owned by one or more qualified owners
with at least 33% of the power purchase agreement payments flowing to a qualified owner or local community.
In addition, a resolution of support for the project must be adopted by the county board of each county in which the
C-BED project is to be located or by the tribal council for a C-BED project located within the boundaries of an
Indian reservation.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 64 / 89
A qualified C-BED project owner means:
a Nebraska resident;
a limited liability company that is organized under the Limited Liability Company Act and that is entirely made up
of members who are Nebraska residents;
a Nebraska nonprofit corporation;
an electric supplier(s), subject to certain limitations for a single C-BED project; or
a tribal council.
In separate legislation (LB 629), also enacted in May 2007, Nebraska established the Rural Community-Based
Energy Development Act to authorize and encourage electric utilities to enter into power purchase agreements with
C-BED project developers.
* LB 561 of 2009 established that gross power purchase agreement payments do not include debt financing if the
agreement is entered into on or before December 31, 2011, and the qualified owners have a combined total of at
least 33% of the equity ownership in the C-BED project.
LocalLocal GovernmentGovernment andand RenewableRenewable EnergyEnergy PoliciesPolicies
Local governments need to take steps to encourage greater participation in wind generation. Cities and counties can
do a number of items to make these projects more attractive. Some of the things that could be done are:
Develop or amend existing zoning regulations to allow small-scale wind turbines as an accessory use in all
districts
Develop or amend existing zoning regulations to exempt small-scale turbines from maximum height
requirements when attached to an existing or new structure.
Work with the Nebraska Public Power District and/or local public power district on ways to use wind turbines
on small-scale individual projects or as a source of power for the community.
NetNet MeteringMetering inin NebraskaNebraska
LB 436, signed in May 2009, established statewide net metering rules for all electric utilities in Nebraska. The rules
apply to electricity generating facilities which use solar, methane, wind, biomass, hydropower or geothermal energy,
and have a rated capacity at or below 25 kilowatts (kW). Electricity produced by a qualified renewable energy
system during a month shall be used to offset any kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed at the premises during the month.
Any excess generation produced by the system during the month will be credited at the utility's avoided cost rate for
that month and carried forward to the next billing period. Any excess remaining at the end of an annualized period
will be paid out to the customer. Customers retain all renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with the
electricity their system generates. Utilities are required to offer net metering until the aggregate generating capacity
of all customer-generators equals one percent of the utility's average monthly peak demand for that year.
StateState LawLaw ofof SolarSolar andand WindWind EasementsEasements
Nebraska's solar and wind easement provisions allow property owners to create binding solar and wind easements
for the purpose of protecting and maintaining proper access to sunlight and wind. Originally designed only to apply
to solar, the laws were revised in March 1997 (Bill 140) to include wind. Counties and municipalities are permitted
to develop zoning regulations, ordinances, or development plans that protect access to solar and wind energy
resources if they choose to do so. Local governing bodies may also grant zoning variances to solar and wind energy
systems that would be restricted under existing regulations, so long as the variance is not substantially detrimental to
the public good.
LB 568, enacted in May 2009, made some revisions to the law and added additional provisions to govern the
establishment and termination of wind agreements. Specifically, the bill provides that the initial term of a wind
agreement may not exceed forty years. Additionally, a wind agreement will terminate if development has not
commenced within ten years of the effective date of the wind agreement. If all parties involved agree to extend this
period, however, the agreement may be extended.
Current Renewable Energy Programs and Funding Sources
SouthernSouthern PowerPower DistrictDistrict IncentivesIncentives
Southern Power District offers several incentives for residential, commercial and agricultural customers. Some of
these programs include:
LED lamp incentives for residential customers
Cooling system tune-ups for residential customers
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 65 / 89
Attic insulation program for residential customers
High-efficiency heat pump program for residential customers
Marathon water heater program for residential customers
Commercial HVAC program for commercial customers
HVAC system optimization program for commercial customers
Commercial/Industrial lighting efficiency program for commercial customers
Variable frequency drive incentive program for commercial customers
Irrigation pump efficiency program for irrigation customers
A number of these programs are in conjunction with programs offered by Nebraska Public Power District.
Customers need to with Southern Power District for current programs and procedures in order to qualify.
LowLow interestinterest LoanLoan ProgramProgram
This program makes available low interest loans for residential and commercial energy efficiency improvements.
The Nebraska Energy Office administers this program, which was created in 1990 using oil overcharge funds. Only
improvements to existing buildings that are at least 5 years old are eligible for loan assistance. As of March 31,
2010, 25,618 loans have been made totaling $205.3 million and financing $210.8 million in eligible projects.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 66 / 89
EENERGYNERGY EELEMENTLEMENT
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 67 / 89
Energy Element
Energy usage in the early 21st Century is becoming a critical issue throughout Nebraska as well as the entire United
States. Our dependency on energy sources that are not renewable has increased significantly over the past 100 years.
Energy usage comes in several forms, such as:
Lighting our homes and businesses
Heating our homes and businesses
Heating our water for homes and businesses
Food preparation
Transportation – both personal and business related
Recreation and Entertainment – vehicular, computers, music, etc.
The 21st Century ushered in an increased concern for energy usage and its impacts on the environment. With the
increased concern for the environment came an increased understanding of the carbon footprint generated by any
one individual as well as striving towards modifying our behavior patterns in order to lessen that footprint. In
addition, the phrase and concept of sustainability has become more widely used, even in the smaller communities of
Nebraska and United States.
Energy and the issues connected to the different sources are becoming more critical every year. The need for the
Energy Element in the Grand Island Comprehensive Development Plan was established by the Nebraska Unicameral
and Governor when LB997 was passed and signed during the 2010 legislative session. All communities and
counties, with the exception of villages, in Nebraska are required to have an energy element in their comprehensive
development plan (if they have one) by January 1 of 2015. This additional requirement forces communities to look
at their energy usage and
needs and plan that into
the future development of
the community. This
makes the comprehensive
development plan more
comprehensive and
therefore more
meaningful. The passage
of LB 997 appears to be a
first step toward new
comprehensive plans
addressing the entire issue
of Sustainability.
SustainabilitySustainability
Sustainability, in today’s
discussions, has a
number of meanings.
According to Webster’s
Third International
Dictionary, the verb
“sustain” is defined as
“to cause to continue...to
keep up especially without
interruption, diminution or
flagging”. However, the
Brundtland Commission
Report in 1987,1 described
sustainability as
“...development that meets
the needs of the present
without compromising
the ability of future
generations to meet their
own needs”. In other
words, sustainability is
the ability of the present
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 68 / 89
generation to live without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to sustain life as we know it today.
Our world’s ability to stabilize and begin to make the switch to cleaner and more renewable resources will aid future
generations with their quality of life. The more renewable energy sources become the norm for our world, the more
likely these sources will be second nature and common place in the future.
Americans have grown to rely heavily on electricity. However, state and federal policies have been increasingly
more insistent on curbing this reliance; especially, those sources that are produced by non-renewable fossil fuels
such as oil and coal. Federal policy has set a goal that 20% of all electricity, by 2030, in the United States be from
renewable sources. Renewable sources would include solar, wind, water, geothermal and any number of other
sources that have not yet been discovered or brought to production levels.
Figure 1
Grand Island Electric Service Area
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 69 / 89
Source: http://www.grand-island.com/index.aspx?page=214
Energy infrastructure
ElectricalElectrical PowerPower
Electrical power in Grand Island is supplied by Grand Island Utilities. Grand Island supplements their local
generation by wholesale purchases from the Western Area Power Administration, the Nebraska Municipal Power
Pool (MEAN), NPPD, and others through a contract with the Southwest Power Pool.
ElectricalElectrical DistributionDistribution
Overhead Division
The Grand Island Utilities Department consists of seven divisions. One of these divisions is the Overhead Division.
This division is responsible for the maintenance of existing overhead lines and construction of new overhead lines.
All electricity delivered to our customers travels through overhead lines through at least part of its journey to homes
and/or businesses.
To get electricity to our customers we generate power at one of our power plants. The power from these plants are
delivered to customers via overhead power lines. Electrical power that is delivered to our customer travels via a
complex path of distribution Substations, Overhead lines, Circuit Breakers, Transformers, Capacitors, Switches,
Underground lines and Meters. Most of our customers are connected to power via overhead lines while newer
installations are connected via underground lines.
The Grand Island Utilities Department has an on-going program to update and maintain its power distribution
system. The primary distribution system voltage is 13,800 volts. The system has been upgraded over the years to
increase dependability and to be able to provide a more stable supply of electricity to our customers. Included in the
system upgrades were consideration for ice storms, wind storms and lightning, as well as public safety and
environmental concerns. A well-engineered, heavy duty distribution system that can withstand destructive weather
and yet meet the needs of a growing community using increasing amounts of electricity is a priority for us.
The Grand Island Utilities Overhead Division is responsible for 410.53 miles of overhead power lines in the service
area. This system includes a total of 4,127 transformers.
Underground Division
The Underground Division of the Grand Island Utilities Department is responsible for the maintenance of existing
underground power lines and the construction of new underground power lines. Almost all new services are installed
underground. This includes services to both residential and commercial.
As part of the Grand Island Utilities Department's on-going efforts to update its system and increase its
dependability and safety, some of the older distribution systems are being replaced with updated underground
distribution systems. The City is replacing the older overhead lines with new underground lines as time allows. This
is being done to improve the appearance of the area as well as improve safety and reliability to customers in the
downtown business district.
The Grand Island Utilities Underground Division is responsible for 154.26 miles of underground power lines in the
service area. This system includes a total of 2,301 transformers.
ElectricalElectrical GenerationGeneration
C.W. Burdick Station
The C.W. Burdick Station is Grand Island's second power
generating facility. It was named after Clarence W. Burdick,
who was commissioner of the Grand Island Water, Light &
Ice Dept. from October 6th, 1920 to November 30th, 1960.
Mr. Burdick was a very progressive yet conservative director
of utilities. He realized the importance of adequate and
Source: (http://www.grand-island.com/)
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 70 / 89
dependable supplies of electricity and water. Burdick Station became the central location where Grand Island's
electricity was generated and distributed from 1956 to 1981. Burdick Station also became the central control center
for the pumping and quality control of Grand Island's domestic water supply.
Today Burdick Station is used primarily as a standby power generating facility and continues to be the central
control center for Grand Island's domestic water supply. Burdick Station frequently produces power in the summer
months as Nebraska's heat and humidity increases the demand for electricity above what Platte Generating Station
(PGS) can supply. PGS serves the Grand Island service area as its primary power generator, as PGS uses abundant,
inexpensive, low sulfur coal, and Burdick burns expensive natural gas and No. 6 fuel oil. Burdick Station has three
combustion turbine units that use natural gas to operate. Generation from Burdick steam units for 2013 were
445,300 MWh while the generation from the combustion turbines was 863,210 MWh
Metered Rates Per
Month Unit No. 1 Unit No. 2 Unit No. 3 Gas Turbine No. 1 Gas Turbine No. 2 Gas Turbine No. 3
Year placed in service 1957 1963 1972 1968 2003 2003
Rated generation 16.5 mw 22 mw 54 mw 15 mw 40 mw 40 mw
Fuel Nat. gas / No. 6 fuel
oil
Nat. gas / No. 6 fuel
oil
Nat. gas / No. 6
fuel oil
Nat. gas / No. 2
fuel oil
Nat. gas / No. 2
fuel oil
Nat. gas / No. 2
fuel oil
Make of turbine Allis/Chalmers Allis/Chalmers General Electric General Electric General Electric General Electric
Source: Grand Island Utilities
The C.W. Burdick Station will serve the citizens of Grand Island into the foreseeable future as continued
maintenance and upgrades to systems at the plant are planned. New digital control systems that help maximize
power production efficiency and monitor plant emissions have been installed for Unit No. 3 and gas turbine No. 1,
and control upgrades have been made to Units No. 1 and No. 2.
Platte Generating Station Location
Platte Generating Station is located in Grand Island at the
corner of Wildwood Drive and South Locust Street. From
Interstate 80, exit 314, travel north on Locust Street for two
miles. At Wildwood Drive, turn west and travel 1/2 miles to
the main entrance. Platte Generating Station is open to the
public by appointment only during our regular business
hours of Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 7
AM to 3 PM. All visitors must check into the office located
on the north side of main building (plant) immediately upon
entering the site. Anyone planning to enter the plant site
after regular business hours should make prior
arrangements.
Platte Generating Station (PGS) was commissioned in 1982 and has provided reliable, low-cost electrical power to
the community during the ensuing years.
PGS produces electrical power for approximately 60 percent of the national average cost. According to the Utility
Data Institute, Platte Generating Station was ranked the 11th lowest-cost electricity producer among 707 power
plants nation-wide from 1989 through 1993. PGS is consistently among the top 25 most efficient plants year-to-year.
Among Nebraska cities, Grand Island's electrical rates are in the lowest fifth. The City's electrical power rate
increased in 1979 and a 15% rate decrease was accomplished in 1989. The last increase was in 2007.
PGS burns approximately 364,600 tons of low-sulfur coal per year to produce about 500,000 megawatts hours.
Efficient and reliable service is attained through the acquisition of low-cost coal, and effective operation and
maintenance practices. PGS has a staff of experienced, well-trained employees who have produced an enviable long-
term plant operating record. The plant operates and is staffed continuously, including all holidays.
At full capacity, PGS produces 100 megawatts of electrical power which is enough to illuminate one million, 100
watt light bulbs. During most of the year, PGS provides enough power to satisfy customer demand. However, during
peak demand periods, additional power is generated at the Burdick Power Station or purchased from other power
producers.
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Electrical power is generated at PGS in strict compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations. In
fact, PGS's air emissions remain well below required levels. In order to produce "clean" electrical power, low sulfur
coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin is burned. Low sulfur coal reduces the formation of air pollutants.
Additionally, an electrostatic precipitator is used at PGS to remove more than 99 percent of the ash created during
the coal combustion process. Since January 1, 1995, a continuous emissions monitor (CEM) has been in service
which documents PGS's minute-by-minute compliance with clean air regulations.
Most water used at PGS is ultimately returned to the Platte River, following verification that acceptable water
discharge standards have been met. Plant systems are designed for water conservation. For example, steam used in
the turbine is condensed back into water and reused, and water used for transporting ash is returned to the plant for
re-cycling.
PowerPower ControlControl
F. E. Phelps Control Center
The F. E. Phelps Control Center houses the Grand Island
Utilities Departments power and water dispatch center as
well as engineering and surveying departments of the
Utilities Department. The center is named after past
Utilities Director Frank E. Phelps.
The Phelps Control Center is manned 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, including holidays. Primary electrical circuits
that distribute power throughout Grand Island's Service
Area is monitored and controlled from this location along
with power that is sold to other utilities. In the event of a power outage within the Grand Island Utilities Department
service area, customers call the Phelps control center to report the outage.
Electrical energy that is used in your home or business follows a complex system starting with an electric power
generating plant or "power plant" located in Grand Island and other places here in Nebraska. The power plant sends
power to high voltage power lines. These lines are controlled with large switches called circuit breakers. The power
is then reduced to a lower voltage with large transformers, then passes through more circuit breakers. Before the
power is distributed to your home or business, another transformer is used to reduce the voltage down to a usable
level.
The Phelps Control Center coordinates this process from beginning to end and monitors power at various points
throughout the power grid via computer. Operation of system circuit breakers are operated by computer from Phelps
Control as well.
Substation supervision and engineering, electrical distribution engineering and design, and water distribution
engineering and design for the Grand Island Utilities Department share offices with the dispatching center at the
Phelps Control Center.
The previous three sections are direct excerpts taken from the Grand Island Utilities website
NaturalNatural GasGas ServiceService
Natural gas is available in Grand Island is supplied by NorthWestern Energy.
Energy Use by Sector
This section analyzes the energy use by residential, commercial, and industrial and other users. This section will
examine the different types of energy sources that are utilized by these different sectors.
Table 1 shows the overall electricity usage by all consumers in Grand Island. The categories are reflective of the
ones established by the City. The categories are defined as:
Residential = all connections and demand by households in Grand Island
Commercial = all retail and office users within Grand Island
Industrial = all industrial users within Grand Island
Table 1: Total Electrical Usage
Grand Island 2010 through 2012
Source: (http://www.grand-island.com/)
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 72 / 89
2010 2011 2012
Residential kWH 217,745,672 216,330,992 216,200,092
Residential % of Total 30.6 30.3 29.5
Commercial kWH 176,787,889 178,453,418 182,384,334
Commercial % of Total 24.9 24.9 24.9
Industrial kWH 316,163,022 320,264,771 333,611,638
Industrial % of Total 44.5 44.8 45.6
TOTAL kWH 710,696,383 715,049,181 732,196,064
Annual Change 0.61%2.40%
Customer by Class:
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
TOTAL
20,071
4,249
84
24,404
20,152
4,280
87
24,519
20,278
4,308
92
24,678
Source: Grand Island Utilities
Table 1 shows the usage of electricity throughout the Grand Island corporate limits from 2010 through 2012. The
data indicate the usage by residential, commercial and industrial uses for the time period. In addition, the Table
indicates the number of customers per sector.
Overall, from 2010 to 2012, the total consumption increased by 2.4% while the customer base increased by 1.12%,
which would indicate some of the newer customers added during this period had larger electric consumption or that
some of the existing customers increased their usage through additional floor area (commercial or industrial) or
there was an increase in the production levels (industrial).
ResidentialResidential UsesUses
The data indicate the percent of total used by sector. The Table shows the overall percentage of the total electrical
usage for residential customers went from 30.6% in 2010 to 29.5% in 2012; while the overall number of residential
customers increased by 207 connections. From 2010 to 2012, the residential demand saw a decrease every year (-
0.65% and -0.06% respectively).
The overall residential demand for this period decreased by -0.71%; however, the average per customer for the
period saw a -1.71% change going from 10,848 kW in 2010 to 10,662 kW in 2012. These decreases would tend to
suggest the following:
More residential customers are becoming more conservation oriented
More residential in turn are purchasing products which consume less energy
More residential customers are making the switch between incandescent bulbs to Compact Fluorescent lights
(CFL) or Light Diode Emitting bulbs (LED).
Better energy efficiency measures are be implemented in construction and remodels.
A combination of all these items.
CommercialCommercial UsesUses
Grand Island’s commercial customers from 2010 to 2012 remained steady as to the proportion of the energy used,
holding at 24.9% of the total consumption. Based upon the data from Grand Island Utilities, the overall commercial
consumption increased by 3.17% while the total customer base increased by 1.39% during the time period indicated.
These data indicate that the increased consumption was nearly double that of the increase in customer base. This
indicates a couple of different dynamics may be occurring:
Existing commercial customers are increasing the amount of electricity they require.
Existing commercial customers have increased their space used to provide goods and services.
The new commercial customers are higher than average electric consumers.
A combination of all these items.
IndustrialIndustrial UsesUses
Industrial electrical consumption in Grand Island went from 44.5% of the total consumption in 2010 to 45.6% in
2012. The data in Table 1 indicate that the total consumption increased by 5.52% between 2010 and 2012; while the
total number of industrial customers increased by 9.5%. Therefore, the increasing consumption actually grew at a
slower rate than the number of customers. This indicates several potential possibilities:
The new industrial customers were low consumption businesses.
A combination of new industrial customers and existing industrial customers implementing conservation
measures.
Existing customers implementing conservation measures
A combination of all these items.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 73 / 89
Short-term and Long-term Strategies
As the need and even regulatory requirements for energy conservation increases, residents
of communities and even rural areas will need to:
1.Become even more conservative with energy usage
2.Make use of existing and future programs for retrofitting houses, businesses, and
manufacturing plants
3.Increase their use of renewable energy sources.
ResidentialResidential StrategiesStrategies
There are a number of different strategies that can be undertaken to improve energy
efficiency and usage in residences. These strategies range from simple (less costly) to
complex (costly). Unfortunately not all of the solution will have an immediate return on
investment. As individual property owners, residents will need to find strategies that fit into their ability to pay for
savings at the present time.
There are several ways to make a residence more energy efficient. Some of the easiest include:
Converting all incandescent light bulbs to Compact Florescent or LED bulbs
Changing air filters more regularly
Installing additional insulation in the attic
Keeping thermostats set a cooler levels in the winter and higher levels in the summer
Converting standard thermostats to digital/programmable thermostats
Changing out older less efficient Air Conditioners and Furnaces to newer high-efficiency units
Changing out older appliances with new Energy Star appliances
Some of the more costly ways to make a residence more energy efficient include:
New insulation in exterior walls
Addition of solar panels for either electrical conversion and/or water heater systems in cooperation with Grand
Island Utilities and in compliance with the local zoning codes.
Adding individual scale wind energy conversion systems in cooperation with Grand Island Utilities and in
compliance with the local zoning codes.
Installing geothermal heating and cooling system in cooperation with Grand Island Utilities and in compliance
with the local zoning codes.
Installation of energy-efficient low-e windows
CommercialCommercial andand IndustrialIndustrial StrategiesStrategies
Strategies for energy efficiency within commercial and industrial facilities can be more difficult to achieve than
those for residential uses. Typically, these improvements will require a greater amount of investment due to the size
of most of these facilities.
There are a number of different strategies that can be undertaken to improve energy efficiency and usage in
residences. Again, not all of the solutions will have an immediate return on investment. As individual property
owners, property owners will need to find strategies that will fit into their ability to pay for savings at the present
time.
There are several ways to make a commercial business more energy efficient. Some of the easiest include:
Converting all incandescent light bulbs to Florescent Lights, Compact Florescent Lighting, or LED on small
fixtures
Keeping thermostats set a cooler levels in the winter and higher levels in the summer
Converting standard thermostats to digital/programmable thermostats
Installing additional insulation in an attic space
Changing out older less efficient Air Conditioners and Furnaces to newer high-efficiency units
Some of the more costly ways to make a business more energy efficient include:
Installation of energy-efficient windows and/or storefronts
New insulation in exterior walls, if possible
Addition of solar panels for either electrical conversion and/or water heater systems in cooperation with Grand
Island Utilities and in compliance with the local zoning codes.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 74 / 89
Adding individual scale wind energy conversion systems in cooperation with Grand Island Utilities and in
compliance with the local zoning codes.
Installing geothermal heating and cooling system in cooperation with Grand Island Utilities and in compliance
with the local zoning codes.
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources are those natural resources such as the
wind, sun, water, the earth (geothermal), and even methane (from
natural resources or man-made situations) that can be used over
and over again with minimal or no depletion. The most common
sources of renewable energy resources used in Nebraska is the
wind, the sun, the water and/or the earth. The following are
examples of how these renewable resources can be used to reduce
our dependency on fossil fuels.
WindWind
The wind is one of those resources that seem to be in abundance in
Nebraska. Wind is not a new technology in Nebraska; the pioneers
that settled in Nebraska used wind mills for power and to work the
water wells on their farms and ranches.
Wind can be used to produce electricity through the construction of
small-scale or utility/commercial grade wind conversion systems
(wind turbines). However, not all areas of the state have the ideal
levels needed to produce electricity on a utility or commercial level;
but the use of small-scale wind turbines on homes and businesses will
work in most parts of Nebraska.
Figure 3:
ANNUAL AVERAGE WIND SPEED AT 80 METERS
NEBRASKA
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The wind quality in Grand Island and Hall County is average to above average, especially south of the Platte River
and into Adams County. The darker purple areas are the more ideal locations for wind. However, any future wind
development will be determined with the use of meteorological towers used to compile wind data for approximately
a one year period prior to making any future decisions.
SolarSolar
Solar energy has been around for decades and it last hit a high in
popularity in the 1970’s. However, today’s solar energy design is much
more efficient and are more aesthetically pleasing. Some of the aesthetic
improvements have to do with the fact that today’s systems are not as
bulky as their ancestors. Today solar is being used much like wind
turbines, on a small-scale level (home or business) or a much grander
level (solar farms).
Solar energy includes solar water and space heating as well as taking
solar photovoltaic panels to convert the sun’s rays into electricity. Solar
panels can typically produce between 100 and 200 watts per square meter at an installed cost of $7 to $9 per watt,
but these costs are becoming less every year as more solar units are commissioned and new more cost effective
technologies are developed.
Based upon the diagram to the right there is great solar potential in the state of Nebraska. A majority of the state lies
within some of the better areas in the country for solar potential.
Figure 4:
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 76 / 89
Source: Solar Energy Industries Association
SOLAR POTENTIAL CONTOURS
GeothermalGeothermal EnergyEnergy
Geothermal energy includes a process where a series of pipes are lowered into vertical cores called heat-sink wells.
The pipes carry a highly conductive fluid that either is heated or cooled by the constant temperature of the ground.
The resulting heat exchange is then transferred back into the heating and cooling system of a home or other
structure. This is call a geothermal heat exchange system or ground source heat pumps. The California Energy
Commission estimates the costs of a geothermal system can earn net savings immediately when financed as part of a
30-year mortgage (Source: American Planning Association, PAS Memo January/February 2009).
RenewableRenewable EnergyEnergy inin HallHall CountyCounty
Renewable energy in Grand Island and the Hall County area will be difficult now and into the future. The reasons
for this difficulty is not rooted in the desire of the local residents or political reluctance but more due to nature itself.
Nature and the lay of the land creates some very difficult situations for the use of wind energy or hydroelectric
generation.
Wind generation will be difficult due to the migratory flyway that covers the Hall County area during a three to four
month period in the spring and fall. Spring is the more critical
period since the Hall County area is one of the major stopovers
of the Sandhill Cranes and a limited number of Whooping
Cranes. The Whooping Cranes are on the endangered species
list and are protected. In addition, since the Whooping Cranes
tend to fly north with the Sandhill Cranes, the Sandhill Cranes
are afforded the same basic protections during this migratory
period.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 77 / 89
Any commercial or utility grade wind turbine development would likely need to be taken out of production during
these periods. This shorter production time would likely harm the cost-effectiveness of most wind farms.
Figure 5:
SPRING SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION PATTERN AND PRIMARY NEBRASKA LOCATIONS
Source: www.cranetrust.org and
http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/conservation/wildlife-
viewing/SandhillCranes/where2watchCranes.asp
Hydroelectric generation in Grand Island and Hall County area is not practical and is nearly impossible due to the
flatter topography found throughout the area. There are few to no areas that could be dammed up in order to create a
large enough water reservoir to power the turbines.
Geothermal systems, due to the prevalence of a high water table and extensive industrial ground water
contamination in and around Grand Island requires that caution, and good engineering controls should be
implemented when considering geothermal installations.
However, the other types of renewable energy sources are possible within Hall County, including geothermal (with
special engineering considerations), methane, and solar. Solar may create some issues closer to the primary
migratory areas of Hall County.
Energy Programs in Nebraska
The following provides a basic history and description of some newer programs in Nebraska; interested parties
should contact the State of Nebraska Energy Office or their local public power district.
The following information is an excerpt from the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.
C-BEDC-BED ProgramProgram
In May 2007, Nebraska established an exemption from the sales and use tax imposed on the gross receipts from the
sale, lease, or rental of personal property for use in a community-based energy development (C-BED) project. The
Tax Commissioner is required to establish filing requirements to claim the exemption. In April 2008 L.B. 916 made
several amendments to this incentive, including: (1) clarified C-BED ownership criteria to recognize ownership by
partnerships, cooperatives and other pass-through entities; (2) clarified that the restriction on power purchase
agreement payments should be calculated according to gross* and not net receipts; (3) added language detailing the
review authority of the Tax Commissioner and recovery of exempted taxes; and (4) defined local payments to
include lease payments, easement payments, and real and personal property tax receipts from a C-BED project.
A C-BED project is defined as a new wind energy project that meets one of the following ownership conditions:
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 78 / 89
For a C-BED project that consists of more than two turbines, the project is owned by qualified owners with no
single qualified owner owning more than 15% of the project and with at least 33% of the power purchase
agreement payments flowing to the qualified owner or owners or local community; or
For a C-BED project that consists of one or two turbines, the project is owned by one or more qualified owners
with at least 33% of the power purchase agreement payments flowing to a qualified owner or local community.
In addition, a resolution of support for the project must be adopted by the county board of each county in which the
C-BED project is to be located or by the tribal council for a C-BED project located within the boundaries of an
Indian reservation.
A qualified C-BED project owner means:
a Nebraska resident;
a limited liability company that is organized under the Limited Liability Company Act and that is entirely made up
of members who are Nebraska residents;
a Nebraska nonprofit corporation;
an electric supplier(s), subject to certain limitations for a single C-BED project; or
a tribal council.
In separate legislation (LB 629), also enacted in May 2007, Nebraska established the Rural Community-Based
Energy Development Act to authorize and encourage electric utilities to enter into power purchase agreements with
C-BED project developers.
* LB 561 of 2009 established that gross power purchase agreement payments do not include debt financing if the
agreement is entered into on or before December 31, 2011, and the qualified owners have a combined total of at
least 33% of the equity ownership in the C-BED project.
LocalLocal GovernmentGovernment andand RenewableRenewable EnergyEnergy PoliciesPolicies
Local governments need to take steps to encourage greater participation in wind generation. Cities and counties can
do a number of items to make these projects more attractive. Some of the things that could be done are:
Develop or amend existing zoning regulations to allow small-scale wind turbines as an accessory use in all
districts
Develop or amend existing zoning regulations to exempt small-scale turbines from maximum height
requirements when attached to an existing or new structure.
Work with the local public power utility on ways to use wind turbines on small-scale individual projects or as a
source of power for the community.
NetNet MeteringMetering inin NebraskaNebraska
LB 436, signed in May 2009, established statewide net metering rules for all electric utilities in Nebraska. The rules
apply to electricity generating facilities which use solar, methane, wind, biomass, hydropower or geothermal energy,
and have a rated capacity at or below 25 kilowatts (kW). Electricity produced by a qualified renewable energy
system during a month shall be used to offset any kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed at the premises during the month.
Any excess generation produced by the system during the month will be credited at the utility's avoided cost rate for
that month and carried forward to the next billing period. Any excess remaining at the end of an annualized period
will be paid out to the customer. Customers retain all renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with the
electricity their system generates. Utilities are required to offer net metering until the aggregate generating capacity
of all customer-generators equals one percent of the utility's average monthly peak demand for that year.
StateState LawLaw ofof SolarSolar andand WindWind EasementsEasements
Nebraska's solar and wind easement provisions allow property owners to create binding solar and wind easements
for the purpose of protecting and maintaining proper access to sunlight and wind. Originally designed only to apply
to solar, the laws were revised in March 1997 (Bill 140) to include wind. Counties and municipalities are permitted
to develop zoning regulations, ordinances, or development plans that protect access to solar and wind energy
resources if they choose to do so. Local governing bodies may also grant zoning variances to solar and wind energy
systems that would be restricted under existing regulations, so long as the variance is not substantially detrimental to
the public good.
LB 568, enacted in May 2009, made some revisions to the law and added additional provisions to govern the
establishment and termination of wind agreements. Specifically, the bill provides that the initial term of a wind
agreement may not exceed forty years. Additionally, a wind agreement will terminate if development has not
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 79 / 89
commenced within ten years of the effective date of the wind agreement. If all parties involved agree to extend this
period, however, the agreement may be extended.
Current Renewable Energy Programs and Funding Sources
GrandGrand IslandIsland UtilityUtility IncentivesIncentives
Grand Island Utilities has one incentive program available, which eliminates older refrigerators and freezers. By
doing so the Utility will pay customers for removing these older appliances.
LowLow interestinterest LoanLoan ProgramProgram
This program makes available low interest loans for residential and commercial energy efficiency improvements.
The Nebraska Energy Office administers this program, which was created in 1990 using oil overcharge funds. Only
improvements to existing buildings that are at least 5 years old are eligible for loan assistance. As of March 31,
2010, 25,618 loans have been made totaling $205.3 million and financing $210.8 million in eligible projects.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 80 / 89
EENERGYNERGY EELEMENTLEMENT
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 81 / 89
Energy Element
Energy usage in the early 21st Century is becoming a critical issue throughout Nebraska as well as the entire United
States. Our dependency on energy sources that are not renewable has increased significantly over the past 100 years.
Energy usage comes in several forms, such as:
Lighting our homes and businesses
Heating our homes and businesses
Heating our water for homes and businesses
Food preparation
Transportation – both personal and business related
Recreation and Entertainment – vehicular, computers, music, etc.
The 21st Century ushered in an increased concern for energy usage and its impacts on the environment. With the
increased concern for the environment came an increased understanding of the carbon footprint generated by any
one individual as well as striving towards modifying our behavior patterns in order to lessen that footprint. In
addition, the phrase and concept of sustainability has become more widely used, even in the smaller communities of
Nebraska and United States.
Energy and the issues connected to the different sources are becoming more critical every year. The need for the
Energy Element in the Wood River Comprehensive Development Plan was established by the Nebraska Unicameral
and Governor when LB997 was passed and signed during the 2010 legislative session. All communities and
counties, with the exception of villages, in Nebraska are required to have an energy element in their comprehensive
development plan (if they have one) by January 1 of 2015. This additional requirement forces communities to look
at their energy usage and needs and plan that into the future development of the community. This makes the
comprehensive development plan more comprehensive and therefore more meaningful. The passage of LB 997
appears to be a first step toward new comprehensive plans addressing the entire issue of Sustainability.
SustainabilitySustainability
Sustainability, in today’s discussions, has a number of meanings. According to Webster’s Third International
Dictionary, the verb “sustain” is defined as “to cause to continue...to keep up especially without interruption,
diminution or flagging”. However, the Brundtland Commission Report in 1987,1 described sustainability as
“...development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs”. In other words, sustainability is the ability of the present generation to live without
jeopardizing the ability of future generations to sustain life as we know it today.
Our world’s ability to stabilize and begin to make the switch to cleaner and more renewable resources will aid future
generations with their quality of life. The more renewable energy sources become the norm for our world, the more
likely these sources will be second nature and common place in the future.
Americans have grown
to rely heavily on
electricity. However,
state and federal
policies have been
increasingly more
insistent on curbing this
reliance; especially,
those sources that are
produced by non-
renewable fossil fuels
such as oil and coal.
Federal policy has set a
goal that 20% of all
electricity, by 2030, in
the United States be
from renewable
sources. Renewable
sources would include
solar, wind, water,
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 82 / 89
geothermal and any number of other sources that have not yet been discovered or brought to production levels.
Figure 1
Wood River Electric Service Area
Source: http://www.powerreview.nebraska.gov/maps/South%20Central%20Munis%20Map%20_5-1-09_.pdf
Energy infrastructure
ElectricalElectrical PowerPower
The electrical power distribution system in Wood River is owned and operated by Wood River Utility Department.
The city purchases their wholesale electricity from the Nebraska Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) which is an
entity Nebraska Municipal Power Pool and the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA).
NaturalNatural GasGas ServiceService
Natural gas is available in Wood River is supplied by Source Gas.
Energy Use by Sector
This section analyzes the energy use by residential, commercial, and industrial and other users. This section will
examine the different types of energy sources that are utilized by these different sectors.
Table 1 shows the overall electricity usage by all consumers in Wood River. The categories are reflective of the ones
established by the City. The categories are defined as:
Residential = all connections and demand by households in Wood River
Commercial = all retail and office users within Wood River
Industrial = all industrial users within Wood River
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 83 / 89
Table 1: Total Electrical Usage
Wood River 2011 through 2013
2011 2012 2013
Residential kWH 6,310,088 6,096,841 6,193,882
Residential % of Total 52.4%51.6%50.4%
Commercial kWH 5,729,422 5,713,986 6,093,765
Commercial % of Total 47.6%48.4%49.6%
Industrial kWH 0 0 0
Industrial % of Total 0 0 0
TOTAL kWH 12,039,510 11,810,827 12,287,647
Annual Change -1.9%4.0%
Customer by Class:
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
TOTAL
509
152
0
661
512
144
0
656
538
161
0
699
Source: Wood River Utilities
Table 1 shows the usage of electricity throughout the Wood River service area from 2011 through 2013. The data
indicate the usage by residential, commercial and industrial uses for the time period. In addition, the Table indicates
the number of customers per sector.
Overall, from 2011 to 2013, the total consumption increased by 4.0% while the customer base increased by 5.7%,
which indicates that the number of customers increased a greater level than the overall electrical consumption. This
would typically indicate that there were conservation measures being taken by consumers.
ResidentialResidential UsesUses
The data indicate the percent of total used by sector. The Table shows the overall percentage of the total electrical
usage for residential customers went from 52.4% in 2011 to 50.4% in 2013; while the overall number of residential
customers increased by 29 connections. From 2011 to 2013, the residential demand saw an overall decrease;
however, there was an increase of consumption from 2012 to 2013.
The overall residential demand for this period changed by -1.8%; however, the average per customer for the period
saw a -7.6% change going from 12,397 kW in 2011 to 11,513 kW in 2013. These decreases would tend to suggest
the following:
More residential customers are becoming more conservation oriented
More residential in turn are purchasing Energy Star products which consume less energy
More residential customers are making the switch between incandescent bulbs to Compact Fluorescent lights
(CFL) or Light Diode Emitting bulbs (LED).
Better energy efficiency measures are be implemented in construction and remodels.
A combination of all these items.
CommercialCommercial UsesUses
Wood River’s commercial customers from 2011 to 2013 increased slightly from 47.6% of the total consumption to
nearly 50% of the consumption. Based upon the data from Wood River Utilities, the overall commercial
consumption increased by 6.4%% while the total customer base increased by 2.1% during the same time period.
These data indicate that the increased consumption was over triple the increase in customer base. This indicates a
couple of different dynamics may be occurring:
Existing commercial customers are increasing the amount of electricity they require.
Existing commercial customers have increased their space used to provide goods and services.
The new commercial customers are higher than average electric consumers.
A combination of all of these.
Short-term and Long-term Strategies
As the need and even regulatory requirements for energy conservation increases, residents
of communities and even rural areas will need to:
1.Become even more conservative with energy usage
2.Make use of existing and future programs for retrofitting houses, businesses, and
manufacturing plants
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 84 / 89
3.Increase their use of renewable energy sources.
ResidentialResidential StrategiesStrategies
There are a number of different strategies that can be undertaken to improve energy efficiency and usage in
residences. These strategies range from simple (less costly) to complex (costly). Unfortunately not all of the solution
will have an immediate return on investment. As individual property owners, residents will need to find strategies
that fit into their ability to pay for savings at the present time.
There are several ways to make a residence more energy efficient. Some of the easiest include:
Converting all incandescent light bulbs to Compact Florescent or LED bulbs
Changing air filters more regularly
Installing additional insulation in the attic
Keeping thermostats set a cooler levels in the winter and higher levels in the summer
Converting standard thermostats to digital/programmable thermostats
Changing out older less efficient Air Conditioners and Furnaces to newer high-efficiency units
Changing out older appliances with new more energy-efficient appliances
Some of the more costly ways to make a residence more energy efficient include:
New insulation in exterior walls
Addition of solar panels for either electrical conversion and/or water heater systems in cooperation with Wood
River Utilities and in compliance with the local zoning codes.
Adding individual scale wind energy conversion systems in cooperation with Wood River Utilities and in
compliance with the local zoning codes.
Installing geothermal heating and cooling system in cooperation with Wood River Utilities and in compliance
with the local zoning codes.
Installation of energy-efficient low-e windows
CommercialCommercial StrategiesStrategies
Strategies for energy efficiency within commercial facilities can be more difficult to achieve than those for
residential uses. Typically, these improvements will require a greater amount of investment due to the size of most
of these facilities.
There are a number of different strategies that can be undertaken to improve energy efficiency and usage in
residences. Again, not all of the solutions will have an immediate return on investment. As individual property
owners, property owners will need to find strategies that will fit into their ability to pay for savings at the present
time.
There are several ways to make a commercial business more energy efficient. Some of the easiest include:
Converting all incandescent light bulbs to Florescent Lights, Compact Florescent Lighting, or LED on small
fixtures
Keeping thermostats set a cooler levels in the winter and higher levels in the summer
Converting standard thermostats to digital/programmable thermostats
Installing additional insulation in an attic space
Changing out older less efficient Air Conditioners and Furnaces to newer high-efficiency units
Some of the more costly ways to make a business more energy efficient include:
Installation of energy-efficient windows and/or storefronts
New insulation in exterior walls, if possible
Addition of solar panels for either electrical conversion and/or water heater systems in cooperation with Wood
River Utilities and in compliance with the local zoning codes.
Adding individual scale wind energy conversion systems in cooperation with Wood River Utilities and in
compliance with the local zoning codes.
Installing geothermal heating and cooling system in
cooperation with Wood River Utilities and in compliance
with the local zoning codes.
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources are those natural resources such as the
wind, sun, water, the earth (geothermal), and even methane (from
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 85 / 89
natural resources or man-made situations) that can be used over and over again with minimal or no depletion. The
most common sources of renewable energy resources used in Nebraska is the wind, the sun, the water and/or the
earth. The following are examples of how these renewable resources can be used to reduce our dependency on fossil
fuels.
WindWind
The wind is one of those resources that seem to be in abundance in
Nebraska. Wind is not a new technology in Nebraska; the pioneers
that settled in Nebraska used wind mills for power and to work the
water wells on their farms and ranches.
Wind can be used to produce electricity through the construction of
small-scale or utility/commercial grade wind conversion systems
(wind turbines). However, not all areas of the state have the ideal
levels needed to produce electricity on a utility or commercial level;
but the use of small-scale wind turbines on homes and businesses will
work in most parts of Nebraska.
Figure 3:
ANNUAL AVERAGE WIND SPEED AT 80 METERS
NEBRASKA
The wind quality in Wood River and Hall County is average to slightly above average, especially south of the Platte
River and into Adams County. The darker purple areas are the more ideal locations for wind. However, any future
wind development will be determined with the use of meteorological towers used to compile wind data for
approximately a one year period prior to making any future decisions.
SolarSolar
Solar energy has been around for decades and it last hit a high in
popularity in the 1970’s. However, today’s solar energy design is much
more efficient and are more aesthetically pleasing. Some of the aesthetic
improvements have to do with the fact that today’s systems are not as
bulky as their ancestors. Today solar is being used much like wind
turbines, on a small-scale level (home or business) or a much grander
level (solar farms).
Solar energy includes solar water and space heating as well as taking
solar photovoltaic panels to convert the sun’s rays into electricity. Solar
panels can typically produce between 100 and 200 watts per square meter at an installed cost of $7 to $9 per watt,
but these costs are becoming less every year as more solar units are commissioned and new more cost effective
technologies are developed.
Based upon the diagram to the right there is great solar potential in the state of Nebraska. A majority of the state lies
within some of the better areas in the country for solar potential.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 86 / 89
Source: Solar Energy Industries Association
Figure 4:
SOLAR POTENTIAL CONTOURS
GeothermalGeothermal EnergyEnergy
Geothermal energy includes a process where a series of pipes are lowered into vertical cores called heat-sink wells.
The pipes carry a highly conductive fluid that either is heated or cooled by the constant temperature of the ground.
The resulting heat exchange is then transferred back into the heating and cooling system of a home or other
structure. This is call a geothermal heat exchange system or ground source heat pumps. The California Energy
Commission estimates the costs of a geothermal system can earn net savings immediately when financed as part of a
30-year mortgage (Source: American Planning Association, PAS Memo January/February 2009).
RenewableRenewable EnergyEnergy inin WoodWood RiverRiver andand thethe HallHall CountyCounty areaarea
Renewable energy in Wood River and the Hall County area will be difficult now and into the future. The reasons for
this difficulty is not rooted in the desire of the local residents or political reluctance but more due to nature itself.
Nature and the lay of the land creates some very difficult situations for the use of wind energy or hydroelectric
generation.
Wind generation will be difficult due to the migratory flyway that covers the Hall County area during a three to four
month period in the spring and fall. Spring is the more critical period since the Hall County area is one of the major
stopovers of the Sandhill Cranes and a limited number of Whooping Cranes. The Whooping Cranes are on the
endangered species list and are protected. In addition, since the Whooping Cranes tend to fly north with the Sandhill
Cranes, the Sandhill Cranes are afforded the same basic protections during this migratory period.
Any commercial or utility grade wind turbine development would likely need to be taken out of production during
these periods. This shorter production time would likely harm
the cost-effectiveness of most wind farms.
Figure 5:
SPRING SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION PATTERN AND
PRIMARY
NEBRASKA
LOCATIONS
Source:
www.cranetrust.org and
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 87 / 89
http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/conservation/wildlife-viewing/SandhillCranes/where2watchCranes.asp
Hydroelectric generation in Wood River and Hall County area is not practical and is nearly impossible due to the
flatter topography found throughout the area. There are few to no areas that could be dammed up in order to create a
large enough water reservoir to power the turbines.
However, the other types of renewable energy sources are possible within Hall County, including geothermal,
methane, and solar. Solar may create some issues closer to the primary migratory areas of Hall County.
Energy Programs in Nebraska
The following provides a basic history and description of some newer programs in Nebraska; interested parties
should contact the State of Nebraska Energy Office or their local public power district.
The following information is an excerpt from the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.
C-BEDC-BED ProgramProgram
In May 2007, Nebraska established an exemption from the sales and use tax imposed on the gross receipts from the
sale, lease, or rental of personal property for use in a community-based energy development (C-BED) project. The
Tax Commissioner is required to establish filing requirements to claim the exemption. In April 2008 L.B. 916 made
several amendments to this incentive, including: (1) clarified C-BED ownership criteria to recognize ownership by
partnerships, cooperatives and other pass-through entities; (2) clarified that the restriction on power purchase
agreement payments should be calculated according to gross* and not net receipts; (3) added language detailing the
review authority of the Tax Commissioner and recovery of exempted taxes; and (4) defined local payments to
include lease payments, easement payments, and real and personal property tax receipts from a C-BED project.
A C-BED project is defined as a new wind energy project that meets one of the following ownership conditions:
For a C-BED project that consists of more than two turbines, the project is owned by qualified owners with no
single qualified owner owning more than 15% of the project and with at least 33% of the power purchase
agreement payments flowing to the qualified owner or owners or local community; or
For a C-BED project that consists of one or two turbines, the project is owned by one or more qualified owners
with at least 33% of the power purchase agreement payments flowing to a qualified owner or local community.
In addition, a resolution of support for the project must be adopted by the county board of each county in which the
C-BED project is to be located or by the tribal council for a C-BED project located within the boundaries of an
Indian reservation.
A qualified C-BED project owner means:
a Nebraska resident;
a limited liability company that is organized under the Limited Liability Company Act and that is entirely made up
of members who are Nebraska residents;
a Nebraska nonprofit corporation;
an electric supplier(s), subject to certain limitations for a single C-BED project; or
a tribal council.
In separate legislation (LB 629), also enacted in May 2007, Nebraska established the Rural Community-Based
Energy Development Act to authorize and encourage electric utilities to enter into power purchase agreements with
C-BED project developers.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 88 / 89
* LB 561 of 2009 established that gross power purchase agreement payments do not include debt financing if the
agreement is entered into on or before December 31, 2011, and the qualified owners have a combined total of at
least 33% of the equity ownership in the C-BED project.
LocalLocal GovernmentGovernment andand RenewableRenewable EnergyEnergy PoliciesPolicies
Local governments need to take steps to encourage greater participation in wind generation. Cities and counties can
do a number of items to make these projects more attractive. Some of the things that could be done are:
Develop or amend existing zoning regulations to allow small-scale wind turbines as an accessory use in all
districts
Develop or amend existing zoning regulations to exempt small-scale turbines from maximum height
requirements when attached to an existing or new structure.
Work with the Nebraska Public Power District and/or local public power district on ways to use wind turbines
on small-scale individual projects or as a source of power for the community.
NetNet MeteringMetering inin NebraskaNebraska
LB 436, signed in May 2009, established statewide net metering rules for all electric utilities in Nebraska. The rules
apply to electricity generating facilities which use solar, methane, wind, biomass, hydropower or geothermal energy,
and have a rated capacity at or below 25 kilowatts (kW). Electricity produced by a qualified renewable energy
system during a month shall be used to offset any kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed at the premises during the month.
Any excess generation produced by the system during the month will be credited at the utility's avoided cost rate for
that month and carried forward to the next billing period. Any excess remaining at the end of an annualized period
will be paid out to the customer. Customers retain all renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with the
electricity their system generates. Utilities are required to offer net metering until the aggregate generating capacity
of all customer-generators equals one percent of the utility's average monthly peak demand for that year.
StateState LawLaw ofof SolarSolar andand WindWind EasementsEasements
Nebraska's solar and wind easement provisions allow property owners to create binding solar and wind easements
for the purpose of protecting and maintaining proper access to sunlight and wind. Originally designed only to apply
to solar, the laws were revised in March 1997 (Bill 140) to include wind. Counties and municipalities are permitted
to develop zoning regulations, ordinances, or development plans that protect access to solar and wind energy
resources if they choose to do so. Local governing bodies may also grant zoning variances to solar and wind energy
systems that would be restricted under existing regulations, so long as the variance is not substantially detrimental to
the public good.
LB 568, enacted in May 2009, made some revisions to the law and added additional provisions to govern the
establishment and termination of wind agreements. Specifically, the bill provides that the initial term of a wind
agreement may not exceed forty years. Additionally, a wind agreement will terminate if development has not
commenced within ten years of the effective date of the wind agreement. If all parties involved agree to extend this
period, however, the agreement may be extended.
Current Renewable Energy Programs and Funding Sources
LowLow interestinterest LoanLoan ProgramProgram
This program makes available low interest loans for residential and commercial energy efficiency improvements.
The Nebraska Energy Office administers this program, which was created in 1990 using oil overcharge funds. Only
improvements to existing buildings that are at least 5 years old are eligible for loan assistance. As of March 31,
2010, 25,618 loans have been made totaling $205.3 million and financing $210.8 million in eligible projects.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 6/4/2014 Page 89 / 89