LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - The Lincoln Electric System announced that it plans to decommission the two longest operating wind generators in Nebraska.
LES has already begun the preparation process for decommissioning both of the turbines, which will occur in early July, along with the cleanup. Wind Fan
Once they are both removed, parts will be recycled, salvaged and properly disposed of in an environmentally compliant landfill facility.
“We know that these two wind turbines are recognizable structures within Lincoln, so LES weighed every decision regarding this project carefully,” LES Manager of Resource and Transmission Planning Scott Benson said. “It’s sad to see the turbines go after such a long history, but they will always represent an important stepping stone in our community’s path toward a greener energy future.”
The east turbine currently sits on the proposed Nebraska Department of Correctional Services site, which is nearly half a mile north on I-80 on North 70th Street. That turbine is already out of service because of a mechanical issue.
The west turbine, which is located closer to the Lincoln City Landfill, originally had a life expectancy of 25 years. LES studied the viability of the turbine and decided to decommission it based on the remaining life of the equipment and cost for decommissioning it the same time as the east turbine.
Both the turbines were constructed in the late 1990s and were built 290 feet tall and have a capacity of 1.3 megawatts and were LES’ first investment in wind.
LES said that the construction of the wind turbines allowed them to learn more about renewable energy, which led to investing in many other utility-scale wind projects and other renewable energy sources.
“Not only did they give us enough knowledge and experience to expand into wind, but they also helped us in other areas,” Benson said. “Like when we added LES’ first utility scale solar project, which was the first utility scale solar project in the state of Nebraska back in 2016.”
According to the Nebraska Farmers Union, the amount of wind energy developed in Nebraska has quadrupled since 2014. But 4,500 megawatts of renewable energy is still needed in the next three years for projects on the table across the state.
“The rush is on for our state to be able to figure out how to take advantage of this historic opportunity to dramatically expand and diversify our state’s economy,” John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said.
LES said decommissioning the two turbines will have little to no impact on the amount of wind energy developed, and that wind will continue to play a role in their future.
“There’s no perfect resource, they all have their pros and cons,” Benson said. “If anything was perfect it’s the only thing we’d put in. And when we’re looking at all those options, wind is definitely a big piece of it going forward.”
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