Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference Series:
"State of the Utilities" Video Now Available
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In this recording of the March 12, 2021 virtual presentation, the three CEOs of Nebraska's largest public power districts provide updates on their utilities' issues and challenges.
Speakers: Thomas Kent, Nebraska Public Power District; Kevin Wailes, Lincoln Electric System; Timothy Burke, Omaha Public Power District. Moderator: Stephen Bruckner, Partner, Fraser Stryker Law Firm.
Click here to watch the YouTube video.
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Free UNL Virtual Conference:
Climate Change and Culture in the Great Plains
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How did climate change become such a divisive issue? How does culture—meaning the beliefs, values, social practices, language, and attitudes by which we organize daily life—affect our understanding of climate change and limit or advance our possibilities for addressing it? Why have some embraced climate change denial and tried to delegitimize climate science? How can literature, art, history, politics, economics, psychology, language, and other social science and humanities disciplines bring new and constructive ways of communicating? And how can we move beyond the cultural impasse over climate change? These questions motivate “Climate Change & Culture in the Great Plains." Click here to learn more and register.
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Registration Open for OPPD Workshop:
“Decarbonization Pathways Planning 101”
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OPPD invites the public to attend the first of six “Pathways to Decarbonization” workshops via WebEx on April 7 from 4 to 6 pm.
“Decarbonization Pathways Planning 101” will provide an overview of OPPD’s decarbonization planning process and stakeholder outreach plan, and introduce their vendor partners, Energy + Environmental Economics (E3). If you are unable to attend, the meeting will be recorded and posted. Three additional workshops are slated for April and May. OPPD will provide more information on those during the April 7th meeting. To learn more and pre-register, click here: Pathways to Decarbonization Workshops
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The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 signed into law by President Biden on March 11 includes a number of provisions of importance to public power utilities including an additional $4.5 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
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Energy Challenge For Students |
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Middle school, high school, and college students across the country are invited to participate in an energy challenge for the Omaha Public Power District, which could net them a cash prize, post-secondary scholarships, or virtual internships.
The challenge set forth by OPPD will take place March 25 to 31, 2021. The utility invites students to create a scalable solution for customers to reduce their energy consumption by 10% in a six-hour period during the peak of a high demand event, like the polar vortex, to prevent the need for forced rolling outages. Click here to learn more.
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LES Sustainable Bingo Challenge & More |
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At LES Kids Outlet: Find links to more games and activities, meet the LES Energizers, download and print coloring pages of community heroes, and watch videos.
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Climate Action For Grownups
Read a good book on climate change and then donate it to your local library when you’ve finished it. Our pick for Women’s History Month:
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All We Can Save: Truth Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis contains the expertise and insights of dozens of diverse women leading on climate in the United States—scientists, journalists, farmers, lawyers, teachers, activists, innovators, wonks, and designers, across generations, geographies, and race—and aims to advance a more representative, nuanced, and solution-oriented public conversation on the climate crisis.
Additional Recommended Reading:
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The Brummond Farm Near Craig
Project: 10-kilowatt photovoltaic system, installed five years ago, generates almost half the electricity used by Sandy and Greg Brummond’s farm and home. The cost of the system was reduced by 25% through a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant award and another 30% from the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC is currently 26%.
Installer: Graham Christensen, GC ReVOLT, LLC
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This series of UNL and NPPD solar videos is presented by F. John Hay, Extension Educator for Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Small wind turbines and solar systems for home, farm, or business are among his various areas of research and teaching interests.
Professor Hay has provided numerous presentations and hands-on workshops in communities throughout Nebraska to teach others about solar design and installation, emphasizing the importance of starting with a good economic analysis. In 2017 he installed a solar system at his own home.
The solar videos are available here on NPPD’s website.
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In each newsletter we feature a question and answer about renewable energy and related issues. Please send your questions to nebraskansforsolar@gmail.com
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Q: Does the Tesla Solar roof qualify for the federal 26% Solar Investment Tax Credit?
A: The federal Investment Tax Credit will apply to the cost of the solar portion of the Tesla Solar Roof as well as an energy storage system if it's installed at the same time.
Links to More Information & Resources
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Renewable Energy Jobs & Resources |
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Google Search
An additional search strategy is to check for jobs listings on the websites of solar and wind energy companies that have installed renewable energy projects in Nebraska.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Resources
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Thank you for all you are doing to advance renewable energy in our state!
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