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Greeley County approves Bluestem wind farm permit with conditions, including PPA deadline
Summary
After a public hearing with proponents and no recorded opposition, the county approved a special use permit for Bluestem Energy Solutions with six conditions: agency approvals, road‑use agreement, biannual reporting, a 115 MW cap and a requirement to secure a Power Purchase Agreement within thirty (36) months or the permit will lapse.
GREELEY COUNTY, Neb. — The Greeley County Board of Commissioners approved a special use permit on May 28 for Bluestem Energy Solutions to construct a wind energy project, imposing a set of conditions the board said protect county roads and set project limits.
Planning & Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler told the board the county Planning & Zoning Commission approved the permit and that the matter had received local testimony in support. "The P&Z Commission approved the Special Use Permit with a 5‑0 vote," Trumler said.
Matt Robinette, vice president of development for Bluestem, and several area residents — including Russ Bloom, Mike Wood, David Winter and Peggy Petersen — spoke in favor of the project at the public hearing. No one testified in opposition. After discussion the board approved the permit unanimously and attached six stipulations: the company must satisfy all applicable agency requirements before construction begins; the permit covers wind energy only (no solar); Blue Stem and the county must sign a written road‑use and maintenance agreement before county roads are used for construction/maintenance/decommissioning; company representatives must report twice yearly to the county zoning board on project progress; the permit limits transmission to a maximum of 115 megawatts; and Blue Stem must secure a Power Purchase Agreement and file a copy with the zoning board within thirty (36) months, or the permit will become null and void.
"This Special Use Permit only allows Blue Stem to transmit a maximum of 115 megawatts of energy and does NOT permit any expansion of transmission of energy over 115 megawatts," the board recorded in its stipulations. The PPA deadline language in the minutes reads as submitted to the board: "Blue Stem shall secure a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) within thirty (36) months of the date of the Greeley County Zoning Board approval." The board said the timeline was intended to ensure the project moves forward only with a committed buyer for power.
Next steps: Bluestem must complete required agency permits and enter a road maintenance agreement with the county before any construction traffic may use county roads. The county also required biannual updates to the zoning board so officials can monitor construction and maintenance impacts.
