Dec 8 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Martha Stoddard Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

State officials and farm leaders hoping to make wind energy as successful as the ethanol industry announced Friday the creation of a Nebraska Wind Working Group.

The group will be similar to other such groups established in many other states. Funding will come from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The group aims to bring together people interested in small and large wind projects. It will inform the public about the potential of wind energy and seek ways to encourage wind energy development within Nebraska's unique public power structure.

State Sens. Cap Dierks of Ewing and Don Preister of Omaha and John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, will be co-chairmen of the group.

Larry Pearce of the Nebraska Energy Office will be vice chairman. The state energy office, which is part of the Governor's Office, will provide administrative support.

"Nebraska is blessed with abundant clear air, clean water and tremendous renewable energy resources such as wind," Preister said.

"There is growing interest among Nebraskans in the benefits of clean renewable energy."

Nebraska ranks sixth nationally in wind energy capacity, according to the American Wind Energy Association. That makes it a key state in reaching the goal set by President Bush of using wind to generate 20 percent of the nation's electricity by 2030.

The Union of Concerned Scientists has estimated that generating 10 percent of the state's electricity from wind could contribute $15 million a year to Nebraska's economy.

State lawmakers passed legislation earlier this year to encourage wind energy development by allowing Nebraska's public power companies to team up with private developers and landowners in building wind farms.

The arrangement will make it possible to take advantage of federal incentives for developing alternative energy.