Wind energy accounted for 4.8 percent of all electricity generated in Nebraska last year.
A lecture Thursday in Omaha focuses on the benefits of wind energy to Nebraska’s economy and security. Dan McGuire is co-chairman of the Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference, and is speaking at Thursday's event. He says changes to state law have allowed the private sector to build wind farms in Nebraska.
McGuire says Nebraska lags behind neighboring states in the percent of electricity generated from wind energy.
"Wyoming is almost eight percent, Colorado is 14, South Dakota is 26 percent, Iowa is 27 percent, but the largest electric utility in Iowa is MidAmerican and they get about 33 percent of their energy from wind, and that’s a Berkshire Hathaway-owned company. Kansas gets about 19 percent."
The Nebraska Energy Office says 13 wind energy projects are currently operating in the state, with three more under construction.
Thursday's lecture is part of the Sustainability Leadership Presentation Series. It begins at 3:30 at the Metro Community College Fort Omaha campus.