The time has come to say “goodbye” to our two beloved LES wind turbines.
Located in northeast Lincoln, these wind turbines were constructed in the late 1990s and served as LES’ first investment in wind energy. Wind Turbine #1 (East sits on the proposed Nebraska Department of Correctional Services site, nearly a half-mile north of I-80 on N. 70th St. Wind Turbine #2 (West), located closer to the Lincoln City Landfill, has reached its full maturity.
Preparation for decommissioning both turbines has already begun. The turbines will be felled in early July, and cleanup will take place throughout July. Once removed, parts will be recycled, salvaged and properly disposed of in an environmentally compliant landfill facility.
These 290-foot-tall wind turbines have a total capacity of 1.3 megawatts, allowing LES to learn more about renewable energy. To date, LES’ nameplate resource portfolio of wind is approximately 300 MW in high-wind areas of Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Based on the 2022 Integrated Resource Plan, found at LES.com/IRP, wind energy will continue to be a part of the future generation mix as part of LES’ goal to eliminate or offset LES’ carbon dioxide production from our generation portfolio by 2040. Today, LES’ nameplate portfolio is diversified between 34 percent renewable resources, 35 percent natural gas and 31 percent coal. The removal of Wind Turbine #1 and Wind Turbine #2 does not meaningfully change this breakdown.
View more information on the decommissioning of these wind turbines here.
While we’re saddened to see these turbines go, they will always represent an important stepping stone in our community’s path toward a greener energy future!