Incentives for Omaha Residents to Utilize Nebraska's Wind Energy Resources

Discover how Omaha residents can take advantage of Nebraska's wind energy resources with incentives and policy options available. Learn more about these incentives from an Omaha solar panel installation expert.

Incentives for Omaha Residents to Utilize Nebraska's Wind Energy Resources

Nebraska is one of the few states that has not implemented any policies to promote the development of wind energy. This means that Omaha residents are missing out on the numerous advantages that come with utilizing renewable energy sources. Fortunately, there are a variety of incentives and policy options available that could help to stimulate the use of Nebraska's wind energy resources. An Omaha solar panel installation expert can provide more information about the incentives you might be eligible for, so you can start using renewable energy today. The Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) is an incentive program that has been successful in other states.

It requires a certain percentage of retail electricity to come from renewable sources according to a specific schedule. In some cases, wholesale suppliers like Tri-State G&T allow their customers to buy or generate up to 5% of their needs from renewable resources. The primary goal of the project is to develop multiple approaches to stimulate the use of the state's wind energy resources for the production of electricity, either for domestic consumption or for sale to third parties, and to prepare recommendations for actions that increase the chances of successful wind energy development. The time has come for Nebraska's unicameral legislature and major utility companies to take action and bring their considerable resources and experience to the governor in order to realize the vision that so many in Nebraska have expressed. Table 1 shows the results only for the best locations of wind resources, based on the belief that the location of plants in a location of marginal resources is not justified. The study considered places near Omaha with marginal wind resources and places elsewhere in Nebraska with better wind resources. A number of policy options and incentives could be applied in Nebraska should the state decide to encourage the development of wind energy.

These include emission-free generation, which translates into cleaner air and water; reduced health risks and costs; fuel diversity and energy security; and economic benefits derived from developing and using an indigenous resource instead of exporting dollars to import fuel. Any payment received from federal incentives or tax credits could be used to offset proposed incentives in Nebraska. This would help Omaha residents take advantage of Nebraska's wind energy resources, while also providing them with a number of other benefits.