Josh Moenning, who moderated the event, said Nebraska farmers now receive $46 million annually in land lease payments from wind energy projects.
The Pierce County solar project was one of several renewable energy developments discussed during a Norfolk presentation, which focused on the economic, agricultural and community impacts of wind and solar projects across northeast Nebraska.
Josh Moenning, who moderated the event, said Nebraska farmers now receive $46 million annually in land lease payments from wind energy projects.
Josh Moenning, who moderated the event, said Nebraska farmers now receive $46 million annually in land lease payments from wind energy projects.
The Pierce County solar project was one of several renewable energy developments discussed during a Norfolk presentation, which focused on the economic, agricultural and community impacts of wind and solar projects across northeast Nebraska.
Construction on the Pierce County solar project is progressing ahead of schedule and could be completed sooner than expected, according to landowner Ryan Zimmerman, who spoke during a renewable energy conference on Wednesday in Norfolk.
The utility-scale solar project, which spans about 2,400 acres in southern Pierce County, is expected to be finished by this fall, with power generation slated to begin in spring 2027. It is expected to be one of the largest solar facilities in the country.
Zimmerman said favorable winter weather has allowed construction to continue uninterrupted.
“They’re scheduled to be done the fall of 2026, and the power gets turned on next spring,” Zimmerman said. “But with the weather being as good as it is, they’re working all throughout the winter, so I think they’re probably ahead of schedule.”
At peak construction, Zimmerman said the project employed between 275 and 300 workers. While staffing has since scaled back as major earthwork is completed, he said more than 150 workers remain on site installing solar panels. Once operational, the facility will require five to six permanent employees for maintenance and groundskeeping.
The solar project will generate 420 megawatts of electricity — enough to power several communities the size of Norfolk — and includes around 900,000 solar panels mounted on single-axis tracking systems that follow the sun throughout the day.
Zimmerman said one of the most significant local impacts would come from property tax revenue. Because of the project’s location, three school districts across three counties will benefit.
“Roughly half of the property taxes are going to go to Pierce Public Schools,” Zimmerman said. “About 40 to 45% go to Battle Creek Public Schools, and the rest is going to go to Elkhorn Valley Public School District.”
He estimated the project would generate more than $600,000 annually for Pierce Public Schools alone.
Addressing concerns about taking farmland out of production, Zimmerman said fears about food shortages are misplaced.
“That’s not true, because every year the country produces more corn and soybeans than we ever have,” he said. “If we did produce a little less corn or soy beans because it has fewer acres, well, guess what. That’s going to benefit the neighbor right next door, because supply and demand. If there’s less corn, the value of his corn is going to go up.”
The Pierce County solar project was one of several renewable energy developments discussed during the Norfolk presentation, which focused on the economic, agricultural and community impacts of wind and solar projects across Northeast Nebraska.
Speakers emphasized that renewable energy projects bring multiple benefits to rural communities, including new tax revenue, job creation and long-term lease payments to landowners.
Josh Moenning, who moderated the event, said Nebraska farmers receive $46 million annually in land lease payments from wind energy projects.
“Those are the three key benefits — new jobs, new tax revenues, new farm income opportunities for farmers,” Moenning said.
Luke Virgil, director of economic development for the City of Wayne and Wayne County, spoke about the Sholes Wind Energy Project and related battery storage investments in Wayne County. He said renewable projects could help keep land in families for future generations.
“In my opinion, these projects are ensuring that you can keep that land in your family for another generation, maybe two,” Virgil said.
Virgil also highlighted NextEra Energy’s plans to invest $75 million in a battery storage facility co-located with existing wind infrastructure in Wayne County, calling battery storage “the magic of the three-legged stool” when combined with wind and solar generation.
As energy demand continues to rise, speakers said Nebraska utilities would need to rapidly expand generation capacity. Renewable energy projects, they said, can be built more quickly than natural gas or nuclear facilities and help meet near-term demand while providing long-term economic benefits to rural communities.
“We think renewables, because of our resource base here in Nebraska, can be a big part of that solution,” Moenning said.
DODGE — Myra Hansen doesn’t consider herself a confident shooter on the basketball court.
A man whose life was permanently altered while serving the country he loved, is, in death, continuing to provide for people in need — especially veterans.
A Creston woman is facing felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a traffic stop near Humphrey earlier this month.
Andrea Libengood said she was “completely surprised” when she learned she had been chosen as the 2025 Norfolk Person of the Year, an honor recognizing individuals who make a significant impact on the community.
Battle Creek boys wrestling coach Cody Wintz doesn’t hesitate when dishing out compliments for one current member of his team.
Try bringing together a group of basketball players that is unfamiliar with each other — most right out of high school — then coordinate it into a cohesive unit, a team that can consistently play together at a high level.
The following court information includes marriage licenses, domestic cases filed, criminal judgments, felony cases bound over to district court, criminal cases, civil case judgments, city ordinance violations and speeding and other violations.
A strong January carried into the first round of the Heartland Athletic Conference tournament for the Norfolk High girls basketball team.
Any fans who arrived late to the Norfolk High girls wrestling team’s final home dual of the season on Thursday hardly had time to get settled in the bleachers before it was time to leave.
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