Wind power industry in Nebraska likely to struggle

Nebraska is ranked among top 10 US states in the nation with the greatest energy potential from wind power but its current wind power capacity is only around 153 megawatts. Given Nebraska's wind power potential this is indeed very small number as theoretically Nebraska's wind power could satisfy around 90% of US electricity needs.

Things will likely not significantly improve in years to come because Nebraska plans to add only around 300 megawatts by the end of 2012.

Nebraska is missing lot of different factors that would ensure fast development of wind power industry such as adequate financial incentives, transmission lines,lack of demand for excess power production, and most of all renewable energy portfolio standard. Without renewable energy portfolio standard and adequate renewable energy legislation Nebraska will fail to attract renewable energy investors despite its excellent renewable energy potential.

Wind power is currently meeting only around 1% of Nebraska's electricity needs. The largest wind farm in the state is operating near Bloomfield, and has a maximum capacity of around 80 MW, with 27 wind turbines, each capable of generating nearly 3 megawatts at full capacity

Many people in Nebraska are still not convinced about wind power because wind is intermittent energy source which means that it can't consistently meet base load demands.

The entire US wind power industry will have tough time in the next couple of years because it will have to compete with natural gas. Natural gas prices are expected to continue with their current falling trend, and this will make things very difficult for wind power development because even Obama recently said that natural gas is "terrific energy resource".

It certainly looks like wind power industry in Nebraska is in for a rough ride. At least for the next couple of years.