Wind Financing, Permitting and Other Resources
Financing
The only known financing opportunities for small scale wind projects are
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development
efficiency and renewable energy grants. These grants provide 25 percent
of funding for an eligible project. Either wind or solar would most likely
need to be funded under the renewable energy section of these grants.
You need to be aware that because of the state’s low electric rates,
some renewable technologies are currently not very cost effective, due
to the high cost of installation compared to the payback.
There are also zero-interest loans available from USDA Rural Development.
For more information, contacts in Nebraska for USDA grants are:
Lincoln - Jan Knobel 402-423-9683
Columbus - Dan Laska 402-564-0506
Ainsworth - Mary Gambill 402-387-2242
Scottsbluff - Tim Brooks 308-632-2195
North Platte - Roberta Mues 308-534-2360
Kearney - Karissa Berks 308-237-3118
If you can find an economical wind system, you might consider
using a Dollar and Energy Saving Loan, to finance the purchase.
The loans are offered by participating Nebraska lenders.
More information about Dollar and Energy Saving Loans is at our
DESL page.
The loan application for renewable energy systems including
wind turbines is at Form 20.
Permitting
There are some environmental regulations that apply to wind farms.
Any construction activity that disturbs more than 1 acre of
total land including staging areas and offsite disturbance
must obtain a stormwater construction permit.
The application and forms for this can be found on
NDEQ’s website at DEE.
NPDES Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Sites
If your project requires a concrete plant to be temporarily or
permanently placed at the site, an air permit may be required
depending on the potential emissions of the plant. An air permit
may also be required if there are any concrete, asphalt, or
similar type of crushing activities.
To find out if you need any type of air permit, please call the
Air Permit Assistance Hotline at 1-877-834-0474.
The above permits are the most common that may apply to a wind farm
project. Depending on the specific aspects of your project, there
may be other environmental regulations that apply.
Other governmental agencies that may be involved in your wind farm
project would be the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission with regard
to threatened and endangered species and the US Army Corps of Engineers
with regard to the disturbance of a wetland.
To find out if your project complies with the Nebraska Nongame
and Endangered Species Conservation Act, contact the Commission
at 402-471-5438. If your project will disturb a wetland,
contact the Corps at 402-995-2417.
Permits for wind towers are handled by the Nebraska Department of
Transportation, Aeronautics Unit and require filing a Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA)
Notice
of Proposed Construction or Alteration, Form 7460-1.
An Application
for Permit to Build, Form HP1, is required from the Nebraska Department
of Aeronautics before erecting/building any structure exceeding a height of
150 feet above the surface of the ground at the point of installation,
unless erected under the authority of a license or permit issued by a
federal agency.
A determination of "no hazard" from the FAA in response to
the filing of a 7460-1 is not a "license or permit."
Permits for connecting to the electric grid from the Power Review Board:
Other Resources
Contact us