BHE Renewables announces plans for the largest wind development in Nebraska

BHE Renewables, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, has plans to develop a 400 MW Grande Prairie wind farm in Holt County, Nebraska (USA).

The project, which will be the largest wind energy project in the state, will increase Nebraska’s wind energy capacity by nearly 50 percent and represents the first project in the state for BHE Renewables.

BHE Renewables plans to begin construction at Grande Prairie this summer with completion scheduled for the end of 2016.

Bill Fehrman, president and CEO of BHE Renewables, stated:

“We are excited to be constructing this wind farm in Holt County, our first project in the state. The Grande Prairie project will have a major impact on Nebraska’s economy and energy future while helping our customer, Omaha Public Power District, meet its long-term renewable goals.”

“Our evolving portfolio reflects the growing demand in the U.S. for clean, renewable energy solutions. Energy from renewable sources gives our utility customers and states the ability to comply with increasingly strict environmental standards, providing long-term sustainable solutions.”

Tim Burke, incoming OPPD president and CEO, commented:

“We are very pleased to be working with BHE Renewables to continue to move this project forward. When we announced a long-term power purchase agreement to buy 100 percent of the wind generation from this facility several months ago, our goal was to plan for the future and position OPPD to have more than 30 percent of our future retail generation come from renewable sources. This will put us on the path to make that happen.”

BHE Renewables owns and operates more than 3,400 megawatts of wind, solar, geothermal and hydro resources that produce energy for customers under long-term power purchase agreements. The company has invested more than $10 billion in renewable energy resources and will have more than 1,300 megawatts of wind generation capacity in operation when recent acquisitions are complete.