SIDNEY -- Gusty winds didn't stop a celebration of solar development in Sidney today. 

Officials from Sandhills Energy, the City of Sidney and Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska and local agencies gathered June 18 for the official groundbreaking of a solar energy collection facility in Sidney.  

"Today's groundbreaking is really the culmination of three years of work on not only the Sidney project, but a broader portfolio of 16 projects, across Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado. We're excited to be here today and celebrate this groundbreaking," said Eric Johnson, president of Sandhills Energy. 

Sandhills Energy Executive Vice President Jake Pole said it is important to take care of their local communities. 

"The both of us, our company, it's held here in Nebraska, so having this groundbreaking here in our backyard, taking care of our people here in the state, it means a lot to us," Pole said during the June 18 groundbreaking in Sidney. 

The facility will be located on East Elm Street in Sidney, and Sandhills Energy plans to open a maintenance facility in Sidney as well.   

Sandhills Energy Senior Vice President of Development Brian Boerner said the 25-acre project has been about three years in the making. 

"This is an about 25-acre solar project site. We've been working on it for three years in collaboration with Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) and communities that make up the board of MEAN. The city of Sidney is one of those," Boerner said this morning. 

Boerner said Sidney is one of the bigger projects of the 15 projects in 16 communities Sandhills Energy is involved with.  

Sandhills Energy plans to have the facility online by early 2025.  

Sandhills Energy was awarded an RFP by MEAN in 2021 as the preferred solar energy provider for member utilities. This installation is the first of its kind in the region and will account for up to 5 percent of energy usage by 16 municipalities.