Nebraska 50-Meter Community-Scale Wind Resource Map

This resource map shows estimates of wind power density at 50 m above the ground and depicts the resource that could be used for community-scale wind development using wind turbines at 50-60-m hub heights.

As a renewable resource, wind was classified according to wind power classes, which were based on wind speed frequency distributions and air density. These classes ranged from Class 1 (the lowest) to Class 7 (the highest). In general, at a 50-m height, wind power Class 4 or higher could have been useful for generating wind power with turbines in the 250-kW to 750-kW rating. Given the advances in technology, resources below Class 4 may now be suitable for the new midsize wind turbines. In recognition of these continuing advancements in wind energy technologies and the ability for the current generation of wind turbines to extract cost competitive wind energy from lower wind speeds the Energy Department has moved away from the wind power classification system and now reports wind speeds only.

This map indicates that Nebraska has wind resources consistent with community-scale production. Major areas of good wind resource are found throughout much of Nebraska except the extreme eastern fringe (such as Lincoln eastward to the Missouri River). Transmission lines either traverse or are located in close proximity to many of these good wind resource areas. Significant areas of excellent wind resource are imbedded within some of the good wind resource areas, such as the excellent areas located southwest of Norfolk, west of Valentine, west of Chadron, and south of Scottsbluff. The best wind resource areas are typically located on elevated terrain features, whereas the lowest wind resource are generally located in valleys and basins with relatively low elevations.