Will “Repowering” Steele Flats Wind Farm Bring Counties More Money?

By Gordon HopkinsNextEra Energy, the company that owns and operates the Steele Flats Wind Farm in Jefferson and Gage counties, is looking to upgrade existing wind turbines, a project called “repowering.” The result will be an increase in generation capacity and, therefore, an increase in tax revenue to the host counties without increasing the number of wind turbines.Steele Flats consists of 44 wind turbines, 32 in Jefferson County and 12 in Gage County.According to David Levy, an attorney for Baird Holm LLP, which represents NextEra, that increase could be as much as $25,000 per year for Jefferson County and $10,000 for Gage County. FJN has not independently confirmed those numbers, which are dependent on a number of factors. First, the wind towers must be inspected to determine what changes can be made. Jefferson County Commissioners have emphasized that any and all changes to the towers must still abide by the special use permits issued in 2013 when the wind farm was first approved.In a memorandum to the commissioners, Levy wrote, “Gage County Zoning Regulations and Jefferson County Zoning Regulations expressly 'grandfather' the project such that it is only subject to the regulations, e.g., setbacks, in effect at the time of its approval. Turbines will remain in compliance with those regulations.”NextEra issued a statement about the repowering project on March 6, 2024, “Steele Flats Wind Energy Center was our first project in Nebraska and has been a good example of what a successful wind project looks like. Pending all approvals and notifications, we expect the upgrades to begin this summer.”What is Repowering?Repowering means retrofitting existing wind turbines with new or refurbished technology, such as turbines or blades or even making the tower taller, which can in turn increase the energy output.According to the U.S. Government's Wind Energy Technologies Office, “Although new wind power plant plans and installations dominate headlines, wind repowering—the combined activity of dismantling or refurbishing existing wind turbines and commissioning new ones—also plays an important role in the industry. By modernizing the existing wind fleet, repowering sets the stage for future wind industry investments and helps maximize wind energy use in the coming energy transition.”A number of counties in Nebraska, including both Jefferson and Gage, have enacted regulations making it more difficult for the construction of new wind farms. In 2023, Jefferson County Commissioners voted unanimously for a one-mile setback for wind turbines despite the argument by wind energy supporters that such a setback would make wind farms effectively unfeasible in the county. No new wind turbine permits have been approved since the new regulations went into effect.Repowering is a way for wind farms to increase generation capacity without increasing the number of wind turbines.BladesOne of the ways to increase generation capacity is to increase the size of the blades. This was discussed at a meeting of the Jefferson County Commissioners on Friday, February 16, 2024. Commissioner Mark Schoenrock said, “There will be increased shadow flicker and we're also concerned that there's going to be increased noise.”The regulations set allow for no more than 30 hours of shadow flicker a year. There are also established levels for sound. Levy advised the commissioners, “The shadow flicker will comply with those requirements, the sound will comply with those requirements. You're right, the shadow flicker will extend a little bit further because the blades are longer. Still, we'll be within that 30 hours.”Levy said the old blades will be removed.“The goal is to recycle those,” said Levy. “That technology, that ability is improving every day. No guarantee that you can recycle them but they'll not be disposed of in Jefferson County.”Agreements with LandownersLevy told commissioners that NextEra is working with existing project landowners and offering participation agreements to landowners adjacent to turbines.“Just to acknowledge their proximity to the project,” said Levy. “If they want to participate, they have that offer.”RoadsNextEra noted that, “Once construction commences, the community will see trucks, cranes and equipment moving in and out of the area.”A Jefferson County road was severely damaged in 2023 by TC Energy, the company formerly known as TransCanada and owns the Keystone Pipeline, by trucks transporting oil-contaminated dirt from the Mill Creek oil spill site in Kansas to a landfill in Nebraska. Negotiations with TC Energy to pay for a new roads took months and commissioners did not want to see a repeat of this.The Road Use and Maintenance Agreements from 2013 remain in effect and NextEra assured commissioners they will abide by those agreements.

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