Sidney continues green energy participation

SIDNEY -- The Sidney City Council agreed Tuesday night to continue getting a percent of its energy from wind power.

Mike Palmer, Sidney's electricity superintendent and local representative on the Municipal Agency Energy of Nebraska (MEAN) Board of Directors, voted January 19 to eliminate the renewable pool for wind-generated energy and landfill gas energy. The program will be replaced April 1 with the Green Energy Program. 

Palmer said the program was changed to Green Energy Program to include various types of renewable energy, not just wind and landfill gas.

The City of Sidney receives 1.7 percent of its power from wind energy, Palmer told the city council Tuesday night. He said there are towns in Colorado waiting to get more renewable energy. Palmer said he is concerned that at some point there might be a carbon tax imposed.

Palmer was asked if the city could increase its percent of renewable energy. He said the City would have to make a request to MEAN.

The council approved continuing with renewable energy 5-0.