The state of Nebraska has no specific interconnection guidelines other than standards established under the federal PURPA law.

Individual utilities are required to follow national guidelines.

Dollar and Energy Savings Loans
The Nebraska Energy Office administers this program, which makes available low interest loans for residential, agricultural, and commercial energy efficiency improvements.

Renewable energy projects, including wind turbines, may be eligible with the support of a technical audit which demonstrates that the project will create sufficient energy dollar savings to recover the cost of the project in ten years or less.  

Much of this program’s overall success is due to leveraging loans through Nebraska banks, savings institutions, and credit unions. Those seeking a renewable energy project loan under this program must first have the Energy Office review the technical audit supporting the project and determine its eligibility. The applicant then submits the Energy Office’s Acceptance Statement & Bid to the applicant’s own financial institution, which makes the credit approval on the project before forwarding the application on to the State Energy Office for its commitment. Once a loan has been closed on an eligible project with a signed commitment agreement in place between the lender and the State Energy Office, the State Energy Office buys half of the loan at 0% interest. This results in a below-market rate loan from the borrower’s perspective. The maximum interest rate which can be charged by a lender on a Dollar and Energy Saving Loan is currently 5%.

Though they may be eligible, loans for renewable energy projects have not previously been widely sought and only a handful of renewable energy projects have been funded to date.

We are unaware of any utility-specific incentives for wind energy development in Nebraska. 

The US Department of Energy has produced wind resource maps for each state. The standard map for Nebraska can be found here. A new NREL-validated Nebraska wind map is also available here. You may also find the definitions of Wind Power Classes for the maps helpful. 

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) site contains extensive information about wind resources in the United States.

There is additional information in the Wind Energy Atlas of the United States, where you can review maps for other locations in the US or get more information about how the maps were created. 

The US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network has published wind resource data for most states.  While the map for Nebraska has not yet been validated, the US wind resource map gives a macro-view of wind in Nebraska. 

An electronic copy of the U.S. Department of Energy's 23-page Consumer’s Guide to Small Wind Electric Systems is available at the Wind Powering America web site.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.

Another item of interest is the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s web site on wind energy projects and wind energy events/news occurring through out the country.

Contact your local utility to request additional information on their interconnection policies.  Contact information for Nebraska’s power suppliers can be found at the Nebraska Power Review Board’s website.

The Nebraska Rural Electric Association (NREA) is a non-profit trade organization including 35 rural electric systems that provide service to consumers in most of the rural areas and many of the small towns in the state.  Their website includes contact information for these public utility districts.  

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD)
Nebraska's largest electric utility, NPPD serves as a wholesale power supplier to towns, rural public power districts, and rural cooperatives. It also serves about 75 communities at the retail level.

Nebraska Public Power District
1100 South Chestnut St.
P.O. Box 519
Norfolk, NE 68702-0519
Phone: 1-877-ASK-NPPD (275-6773)
Website: http://www.nppd.com 

Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN)
NMPP Energy
P.O. Box 95124
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
Phone: (402) 474-4759
Fax: (402) 474-0473
Web site: http://www.nmppenergy.org

Lincoln Electric System
1040 “O” Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
Phone: (402) 475-4211
http://www.les.com  

Omaha Public Power District
444 16th Street Mall
Omaha, Nebraska 68102-2247
Phone:  402-536-4131
Web site: http://www.oppd.com

Nebraska Energy Office
P.O. Box 95085
1111 O Street, Suite 223
Lincoln, NE 68509-5085
Phone: (402) 471-2867
Fax: (402) 471-3064
E-Mail: energy@nebraska.gov  
Web site: http://www.neo.ne.gov 
Wind Resources: http://www.neo.ne.gov/renew/wind.htm 
Nebraska Wind Working Group:http://www.neo.ne.gov/renew/wind-working-group/nwwg.htm

Nebraska Power Review Board
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94713
Lincoln, NE 68509-4713
Phone: (402) 471-2301
Web site: http://www.nprb.state.ne.us  

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is a nonprofit network for sharing ideas, resources, and information with individuals, businesses, and communities to promote a sustainable future through renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Plains Organization for Wind Energy Resources (POWER) was developed by the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the North Dakota Division of Community Services to serve as a regional center of excellence for wind energy. POWER provides educational, technical, and partnership-building resources necessary for harnessing wind resources in the central and upper Great Plains.

Repowering the Midwest is the Environmental Law and Policy Center’s clean energy development plan for the Midwest. Their website is a great source of clean energy information for the region.

Last Updated: April 2005

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