10 meteorological towers to assess state’s wind potential

Ten tall meteorological towers will be erected throughout northeast Nebraska to gauge which areas have the strongest winds. Nebraska Public Power District requested proposals from several wind assessment companies earlier this year, and awarded National Wind Assessments of Minneapolis, Minn., the contract to install the nearly 200-foot-tall towers.

Nebraska ranks sixth in the country in wind power potential, but ranks 19th in installed capacity, with 73 megawatts of existing projects. NPPD owns the state’s largest wind farm near Ainsworth and has partnered with private companies to buy electricity generated by their wind turbines.