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Norfolk solar project largest in state, relies on community input

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Norfolk solar project largest in state, relies on community input


Some Nebraskans are discovering out it actually pays to go inexperienced.

Norfolk has grow to be the newest Nebraska group to generate profits off going photo voltaic — financial savings which are being shared with Norfolk companies and residents who signed up for photo voltaic power. Town of about 24,400 is doing so by an 8.5 megawatt group photo voltaic farm that’s going stay inside the subsequent few weeks.

Electrical energy from the undertaking will value lower than typical electrical energy, leading to financial savings to these clients who signed on. For taking part residential clients, the financial savings can quantity to as a lot as a $16.43 discount of their month-to-month electrical invoice, mentioned Grant Otten, spokesman for Nebraska Public Energy District.

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The photo voltaic farm is a undertaking of Norfolk, NPPD and N Photo voltaic, a collaboration of three corporations: Mesner Improvement Co., GenPro Power Options and Sol Methods.

That photo voltaic has grow to be so reasonably priced isn’t stunning. The price of large-scale photo voltaic farms has dropped dramatically previously decade or so, by as a lot as 82%, based on the Nationwide Renewable Power Laboratory, part of the U.S. Division of Power.

Andrew Grin, vice chairman of Sol Methods, mentioned the electrical energy from this photo voltaic farm prices lower than typical electrical energy for a number of causes. The group has labored with NPPD earlier than and owns sufficient group initiatives in Nebraska that it may cut back its value of working and sustaining the photo voltaic panels. Moreover, Sol bought gear for this undertaking in 2019, which allowed the builders to keep away from latest supply-chain issues and enabled the undertaking to learn from an elevated tax credit score.

“The easy reply is because of the economies of scale and our expertise within the state,” he mentioned.

Right here’s how this system works: Residents and companies purchase month-to-month shares in a newly constructed farm and in return get a month-to-month discount on their power invoice that’s bigger than the share worth.

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For Norfolk residential clients, every month-to-month photo voltaic share prices $6.15, whereas the corresponding rebate is $8.70. Clients additionally save by decrease taxes and charges on their payments. Householders should buy as much as 5 shares. (Residents pay a one-time signup price of $50 and get that cash refunded after three years.)

All shares have offered out, and there’s now a ready record. Rebates started displaying up on this month’s payments.

Randy Gates, finance director for Norfolk, mentioned town will save about $170,000 a yr on its electrical payments. Town’s residents and companies will see a complete financial savings of $132,000 a yr, he mentioned.

The brand new photo voltaic farm, at most output, generates the equal of about 10% of Norfolk’s peak demand for electrical energy, Otten mentioned. Its output is the equal of the facility wanted by 1,250 houses. Nonetheless, as a result of it gained’t function 24/7, its precise annual affect shall be lower than that. The farm, which value greater than $10 million to construct, is situated on the west facet of city.

In a group photo voltaic undertaking, residents band collectively to assist fund a photo voltaic farm. That differs from the home-based photo voltaic panels that individuals placed on their very own roofs or utility-scale photo voltaic initiatives, by which a utility funds the development of the farm and receives the electrical energy.

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NPPD has entered a 30-year settlement with Sol Methods to buy the electrical energy at a set value.

NPPD’s subsequent group photo voltaic undertaking shall be in York, Otten mentioned. Different communities which have shaped photo voltaic partnerships with NPPD are: Kearney, Scottsbluff, Venango and Ainsworth.

The Omaha Public Energy District has a 5-megawatt group photo voltaic farm in Washington County, and just like the Norfolk photo voltaic farm, shares offered out earlier than the Washington County one got here on line.



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Nebraska

In Nebraska, USDA secretary signs waiver slashing sugary drinks from SNAP eligibility

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In Nebraska, USDA secretary signs waiver slashing sugary drinks from SNAP eligibility


FREMONT, Neb. (KLKN) — Some foods are off the table for SNAP recipients in Nebraska.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins toured Wholestone Farms, a hog processor in Fremont, on Monday alongside Gov. Jim Pillen and Rep. Adrian Smith.

There, Rollins signed a waiver allowing Nebraska to cut some foods from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.

“This is a historic, novel demonstration project to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase by SNAP recipients,” Rollins said.

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SEE ALSO: ‘Pop is not a food group’: Gov. Pillen wants to remove some items from SNAP eligibility

Recipients in Nebraska will no longer be able to buy pop and energy drinks with SNAP benefits.

This makes Nebraska the first state with such a waiver. Some neighboring states are trying to get their own waivers.

Rollins said this will save the government and taxpayers money.

She said SNAP is the “biggest budget driver” at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“It’s about $113 billion annual budget,” Rollins said. “Almost 10% of that, to supplementally provide assistance to those on the lower-income level, has for too long been used to buy things that are not nutritious.”

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Pillen said this is an effort to help families eat healthier.

“This is the first step to make sure that we help people that are in a lower socioeconomic status, to make sure they can eat healthy again,” he said. “We’re not going to use government dollars to make people unhealthy.”





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Firefighters learn skills at 88th annual Nebraska Fire School

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Firefighters learn skills at 88th annual Nebraska Fire School


HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) – The 88th annual Nebraska Fire School wrapped up on Sunday. Since 1937, the event has been a cornerstone of firefighter education.

Hosted by the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, the school provides essential training for those who serve their communities.

Around 85% of Nebraska’s firefighters are volunteers, and Grand Island Fire Chief Cory Schmidt said in today’s world, it’s hard to find spare time.

Schmidt respects those who volunteer their time to protect others.

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“For a volunteer and the amount of training hours needed to become a safe and effective firefighter, it’s very difficult to balance a personal life, your job, and volunteering, so my hats off to them.“

Over 30 classes are provided at the school, covering a range of topics from fire investigation to leadership skills.

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Explaining the Big Ten’s New Baseball Tournament Format

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Explaining the Big Ten’s New Baseball Tournament Format


The Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament field is set, and 12 teams are embarking to Omaha.

As they do, they are also dissecting their paths to a championship. This year, that path looks a little different.

Instead of a traditional double- or single-elimination bracket, the Big Ten Tournament begins with four pools of three teams. Those three teams play the rest of their pool, with the pool winner advancing to the semifinals. From there, the tournament plays out in a classic single-elimination fashion.

The 2024 Big Ten Tournament Championship is the first for the Nebraska Baseball program.

The 2024 Big Ten Tournament Championship is the first for the Nebraska baseball program. / Amarillo Mullen

As for ties, as in if all teams go 1-1 in pool play, that goes to the highest seed. This makes it imperative for the seeds 5-12 to not drop a game and leave it up to the tiebreakers.

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Different seeds have different days they are playing. Below is the schedule for each seed/team in this year’s tournament.

Based on the time that they play Thursday, the top seed (Oregon) plays its first game after five other teams have finished their pool play. The Ducks get extra rest going into the tournament but then play on four consecutive days.

Nebraska poses after winning the 2024 Big Ten Conference Tournament.

Nebraska poses after winning the 2024 Big Ten Tournament. / Amarillo Mullen

Every game this week will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. The full schedule of games is below.

May 20 (Pool Play)

May 21 (Pool Play)

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May 22 (Pool Play)

May 23 (Pool Play)

May 24 (Semifinals)

May 26 (Championship)

2025 Big Ten Baseball Tournament bracket

2025 Big Ten Baseball Tournament bracket / Big Ten Conference

Follow along for results from the entire tournament with our upcoming Big Ten Tournament Central page.

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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.



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