Posted by Heidi Schwartz
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, Sempra U.S. Gas & Power officials, and state and community leaders recently dedicated the state’s newest clean energy project, the 75-megawatt (MW) Broken Bow II wind farm. Located in Custer County, NE, the new wind facility’s 43 turbines generate enough clean electricity to power about 30,000 Nebraska homes. The power from the facility has been sold to the Nebraska Public Power District under a 25-year contract.
“The completion of Broken Bow II further positions the state of Nebraska as a renewable energy leader,” said Gov. Heineman. “Wind projects like this one provide Nebraskans with clean energy, they represent job creation and they are new sources of revenue for local landowners and businesses.”
“We are pleased to provide a new source of clean power to the region as our company continues to invest in the development, construction and operation of renewable energy infrastructure,” said Kevin C. Sagara, vice president of renewables for Sempra U.S. Gas & Power. “This project could not have been built without the vision and support of the state’s leadership, the Nebraska Public Power District, Broken Bow area landowners and the community. We look forward to continuing these long-term partnerships throughout the life of this project.”
Construction on the new wind farm began in January 2014. It provided a boost to the local economy by creating more than 300 jobs during peak construction. Broken Bow II was placed into commercial operation on October 1, 2014.
“It’s exciting to see large-scale projects like Broken Bow II increasingly become a part of Custer County’s business landscape,” said Melissa Garcia, president and CEO of Custer Economic Development Corporation. “The economic impact from this project extends beyond those who are directly involved to include members of the community who own and operate a range of local businesses.”
“The commercial operation of the Broken Bow II wind farm brings Nebraska Public Power District to within 22 megawatts of meeting our voluntary renewable energy goal to obtain 10 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2020,” said Pat Pope, president and CEO of Nebraska Public Power District. “We continue to diversify our energy portfolio, while still focusing on reliability and the low rates our valued customers expect.”
The completion of Broken Bow II expands Sempra U.S. Gas & Power’s operating wind portfolio, including jointly owned projects, to more than 1,100 MW.
