Bill allowing Neb. school land to be leased for wind and solar power development advances
By APWednesday, January 13, 2010
Power leases may be allowed on Neb. school land
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska school trust land is a step closer to being used to produce electricity.
Nebraska lawmakers voted Wednesday to advance Sen. Greg Adams of York’s bill allowing school trust land to be leased for wind or solar power development.
Much of the 1.3 million acres of land the Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds oversees is already leased to farmers or ranchers. So several senators expressed concerns about how new wind or solar power leases would affect the current leases.
Adams pledged to research the way the new power leases would interact with existing leases before the bill returns for a second round of debate.
Income generated from the leases on this school trust land helps pay for school funding in Nebraska.
