Unappreciated support may be causing wind power to stallApr 26 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Columbus Telegram, Neb.
Wind-generated energy faces obstacles before it can take a bigger part the energy portfolio, but one of those might be less issue than imagination. Addressing the Loup Public Power District Board during its monthly meeting Tuesday, Graham Christensen, Nebraska Farmers Union public relations director, said one of the biggest obstacles is the greatly unappreciated support renewable energy enjoys with the general public -- Nebraska included. Christensen reviewed the results of several studies, one of which is a University of Nebraska-Lincoln poll, which showed 89 percent of state residents surveyed responding positively toward government-supported green energy initiatives and another 89 percent advocating expansion of wind-generated power sources. He added a Nebraska League of Voters survey of five public power districts' customers -- Loup included -- finds that 74 percent would like to see wind and solar energy options expanded. This was news to most public power executives, Christensen said, citing another study finding board members surveyed guessed support for renewable energy at around 25 percent overall. "We need better representation of what the customers are saying," Christensen said. He's taken on an advocacy effort, visiting with public power boards to take this specific issue off the table and engage districts in better-informed renewable energy discussions. Reflecting on the meeting, Loup President and CEO Neal Suess seemed wary of the polling evidence, noting issues can be presented in a number of ways to suggest one preferred option over others. "Look, you give me a poll, I can get you any result you ask," he said. "I take it all with a grain of salt." However, he did concede that there may be an unappreciated appetite for green energy, specifically within the corporate customers Loup serves. He said some organizations are looking for a greener product, either to hedge against ever-increasing production costs or just to promote environmental responsibility. "It all comes down to pricing. The customers and rate payers are always wanting reliable low cost energy," Suess said, the latter of which isn't yet true compared to power created in traditional ways. Moreover, Suess said the board's position on green energy matters little, given that Loup is contractually bound to buy nearly all of its power from Nebraska Public Power District until 2021. Christensen said NPPD has been generally receptive to the idea of expanding wind's role in its power portfolio. The utility current operates six wind operations. A draft of NPPD's 2013 Integrated Resources Plan states high load growth will stimulate expanding wind power generation -- up to $200 million in savings projected -- and energy efficiency initiatives -- up to $450 million estimated in power savings. Not only wind power projects produce savings, Christensen thinks they can be a catalyst in creating new industries and employment -- and an incentive for people to move to the country -- as well as a draw for new companies. He cited Nebraska's recent loss of a potential Facebook office, which went instead to Iowa. Green power featured prominently in their decision, he said. Again, Suess differed with Christensen stating power generation methods probably had to less to do with the tech firm's choice than other factors. On wind power being an economic development tool, Suess said the higher premium for green power keeps it pretty firmly in the margins of the overall power picture. But the ideal situation would be to have a renewable energy policy in place with a local business it can support, he said, citing specifically the turbine-building operation Katana Summit, which ceased operations last fall. http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=28392681 |