August 2003 - NPPD conducted a deliberative polling effort to determine customer knowledge and interest in purchasing energy generated with renewable resources, such as wind. Deliberative Polling results shows 96 percent of ratepayers favor the development of more wind generation, even with slight 1 – 2 percent rate increases.
September 2003 – NPPD’s business case for the construction of a 30-MW facility with additional megawatts constructed for purchase by other utilities (OPPD, JEA of Florida, and possibly others) was presented to the Power Resources Advisory Board on Sept. 29, 2003 and reviewed again on November 24. Customers supported the business case.
December 2003 - NPPD’s Board of Directors approved the construction of a 30-megawatt wind farm near Ainsworth, Neb., with the possibility of expanding to 75 megawatts if the additional megawatts (or the corresponding renewable energy attributes) could be pre-sold to other public entities.
January 2004 - NPPD conducted a detailed study of existing transmission capabilities to ensure 75 megawatts of wind energy will not have an adverse impact.
March 2004 – A public meeting to discuss the proposed project with the Ainsworth community was held in the Ainsworth Conference Center.
May 2004 - The NPPD Board authorized management to obtain regulatory approval for a 60 megawatt, wind-turbine facility and increased the project up to a maximum of 75 megawatts, if other participants could be found to purchase all of the additional project capacity above the approved 60 megawatt size.
June 2004 - NPPD’s Board of Directors authorized $12.4 million to complete the funding needed for constructing a 60 megawatt facility near Ainsworth. Total cost estimates are $81.3 million.
July 2004 - NPPD presented its business case for constructing a 60 megawatt wind facility south of Ainsworth to the Nebraska Power Review Board. The board voted to keep the hearing open and deferred its decision until its August meeting.
August 2004 - The Nebraska Power Review Board approved NPPD's application to construct a 60 megawatt wind facility near Ainsworth, and NPPD’s Board of Directors awarded a contract to Renewable Energy Systems (RES) American Construction, Inc. for $72,406,948 for the engineering, procurement, and construction of the 60 megawatt wind facility near Ainsworth contingent on obtaining signed agreements with participating utilities.
November 2004 - NPPD held an informal meeting with the Ainsworth business community to share information about the project’s schedule and the contractor.
October 2004 – NPPD gave Renewable Energy Systems American Systems, Inc. (RES) “Notice to Proceed” with construction. Four other public entities committed to various megawatt amounts from the facility. They include:
- Omaha Public Power District – 10 MW
- Jacksonville Electric Authority – 10 MW
- Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska – 7 MW
- City of Grand Island – 1 MW
February 2005 – Two meteorological towers (one permanent and one temporary) were constructed and are in service. Information from these towers will be used to determine the actual wind conditions during future testing of the facility, which is anticipated for this summer.
March 2005 – The major phases of construction began which involved building roads, pouring foundations, setting the turbines, and making all electrical connections to the substations. Renewable Energy Systems American Construction, Inc., hired by NPPD for this project, mobilized on site.
April 2005 – Approximately 250 people gathered to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the Nebraska Public Power District's Ainsworth Wind Energy Facility.
May 2005 – Wind turbine towers, blades, etc. begin arriving on semi-trailers to the wind facility site.
June 2005 –Saturday, June 11, marked the date of the first wind turbine's assembly.
July 2005 – Wind Turbine Project Team participated in the first test run of Turbine 1. The test was part of the commissioning work conducted for each turbine at the Ainsworth Wind Energy Facility.
August 2005 – At 1 p.m. on August 1, the Nebraska Public Power District completed construction of the last of 36 wind turbine generators at its Ainsworth Wind Generation Facility. The final assembly came nine months after initial construction activities began at the site and only 53 days after the first turbine was erected.
September 2005 – On September 15, Nebraska Public Power District took provisional acceptance of the Ainsworth Wind Energy Facility.
