(Neb)-Wind Farm Moratorium Bill Survives Kill Attempt  Listen

By: John Axtell Posted at: 03/08/2017 08:28 AM
LINCOLN -  Gordon Senator Tom Brewer’s proposed 2-year moratorium on development of wind farms in the Sandhills survived a vote in the Natural Resources Committee yesterday that would have killed it, but the remains stuck in the panel.

      The vote was 5-3 against killing the bill, and Brewer told NET News he’s not giving up hope on moving it to floor debate this year.

      Chairman Dan Hughes, though, thinks that even if the wind farm moratorium does make it to the floor, there a good chance it won’t be debated this year unless someone makes it their priority bill.

      Brewer, who was elected in November, told NET that if he’d known priority status was a factor in a bill moving forward late in a session, he would have made the moratorium his priority measure instead of one merging the Division of Veterans Homes into the Dept of Veterans Affairs.

       Since the moratorium bill still alive, it would carry over to next year and Brewer plans to fight even harder for it then.

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Brewer says he introduced the bill, which includes a study on wind power development in the state, because the issue is tearing apart communities in the 43rd District, from Sheridan County on across the Sandhills.

       Supporters of wind farms say they represent clean power and economic development, including lease payments to ranchers, while opponents say the towers and turbines threaten the fragile ecosystem and unspoiled view of the Sandhills.

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