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STATE ENERGY PROGRAM IN NEBRASKA |
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In September 2007, the Energy Office received a one year, $75,000 contract from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory under the Department of Energy's Wind Powering America program to perform a number of activities related to fostering wind energy development in the state. The tasks required under the contract included: convene a state wind conference every 12-18 months, provide information and outreach to consumers, develop and implement a strategic plan, form a state wind working group, and create an anemometer loan program. Under this project, the Nebraska Farmers Union received $24,500 to provide wind energy outreach services including participation in the Nebraska State Fair and Husker Harvest Days and the Nebraska Farmers Union Federation received $10,500 to promote and plan the state's first Wind Energy Conference held in Kearney in November 2008. The agency also published and printed 2,000 copies of Small Wind Electric Systems: A Nebraska Consumer's Handbook. The Energy Office has built a database of nearly 2,500 wind energy consumers, held a wind energy conference that was attended by 450 Nebraskans, not including presenters, and together with its contractor, provided more than 50 informational meetings across the state, including a week-long tour in February 2008. |
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