Representatives from companies proposing to build a wind farm in Holt County were on hand to hear comments and field questions from the public last week in O'Neill. The gathering at the Community Center was a public scoping meeting, a legally mandated step in the application process for Grande Prairie Wind, LLC to build a wind farm. Grande Prairie plans to build a 400 megawatt wind farm over 54,250 acres of northeast Holt County. The wind farm would be located on public and privately owned land, and could involve up to 266 wind turbines. The turbine model has not been selected, but the total height of the towers could reach 521 feet. Although the number could change, it is estimated that the wind farm could generate nearly 40 permanent jobs, plus the temporary construction jobs needed to build it.

The farm will be located northeast of O'Neill. The eastern edge will border Knox County, while the southern part will be about 4 miles north of Old Highway 108.

Grande Prairie is working with Western Area Power Administration on this project, proposing to connect the wind farm with Western's power grid. A buyer for the power has not been found yet, but most likely the power produced by the wind farm would primarily be shipped to a buyer out of state. However, an offer to sell 10% to NPPD is also part of the deal. NPPD has not officially stated their intentions, but indications point to NPPD declining the offer due to lack of demand.

At this time, Grande Prairie and Western are submitting an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, that will give them the rights to build the wind farm if approved. That process will most likely take a couple of years. Some of the steps include the environmental review, drafting the EIS, issuing it for public review, and waiting for the decision of approval or disapproval. Right now the target date is early 2014 for the final decision to be made. If the wind farm is permitted, Grande Prairie plans to begin building soon afterward, and hopes to have the wind farm operational by the fall of 2014.

Another public meeting will have to take place as soon as the EIS is released to the public. That meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 2013, and will give the public a chance to voice final comments before the decision is made. If anyone would like to make a comment, they may email grandeprairie@wapa.gov, or contact Matt Marsh of Western Area Power Administration.

Voters in Atkinson and O'Neilll will be voting on similiar but different economic development issues during this upcoming primary election. 

Atkinson passed their Local Option Municpal Economic Development Act in 2003. When voters approved their measure, it was estimated that Atkinson would be able to collect $65,000 to fund their plan. Retail sales have more than doubled since voters approved their plan and program and now they are actually collecting more than $120,000 a year. Voters in Atkinson will be voting on whether or not to allow of of their funds collected to be used for their economic development program. there is no increase in the local sales tax.

Voters in O'Neill will be voting on an economic development plan and on a one-half (1/2) percent sales tax increase to fund activities outlined within the proposed plan.

Some of the eligible activities to be funded with the plan include direct loans to qualifying businesses for fixed assets and/or working capital for business expansions, business start-ups and business recruitment; other activities include workforce development and recruitment, housing, downtown revitalization, demolition of commercial, industrial and residental properties.   

Sixty communities in Nebraska are utilizing this program to help expand their existing businesses, foster business start-ups and attract new investment into their communities.