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Farmers in northeastern Nebraska are embracing a new harvest: the sun.
Friday, June 4, 2021 at 3:11 pm CDT
Updated: Friday, June 4, 2021, 3:30 p.m. CDT
TEKAMAH, Neb. – Farmers in northeast Nebraska are picking up a new crop: the sun.
Members of the Burt Township celebrated a new five-acre solar farm with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday morning.
“You can be proud to be the first utility in the state to do this,” said Jon Crane, President and CEO of Bluestem Energy Solutions.
The systems are able to store and use energy at peak times while also supporting the region’s power grid.
“It can save you money,” said Crane.
But will it cut electricity bills for residents?
“Not right away, no,” said Crane. “But that’s a long-term solution because the prices are fixed.”
And when time goes by and winter arrives, the panels will continue to be active.
“It will generate electricity from the light,” said Crane. “It will reflect off the ground as it is now, but with snow on the ground it will actually produce more power.”
While it’s the first of its kind in the state, it won’t be the last. Norfolk Mayor Josh Moenning says it is a guide to the state.
“This is really a role model for the rest of the state and in Norfolk we look forward to getting our own project underway soon,” said Moenning.
Moenning says there will be a solar array like this just outside of Norfolk on West Highway 275 in a few months.
The farms are a way of giving back to the community.
“It really is a local generation,” said Moenning. “This decentralized generation project goes directly into the energy system here.”
It looks like solar parks across the state could continue to grow.
“This is not a fad,” said Crane. “This is not a political agenda. This really is the future.”
The Burt County Public Power District and Bluestem Energy Solutions project aims to generate payments to landowners and fund local schools through the additional non-renewable energy tax.
