Lincoln Electric System decommissioning Nebraska’s two oldest wind turbines

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Lincoln Electric System announced Monday that Nebraska’s two oldest wind turbines will be decommissioned next month.

Both turbines were constructed in the late 1990s and served as LES’s first investment in wind energy.

Wind turbine No. 1 sits on the proposed site of the new prison in Lincoln, nearly a half-mile north of Interstate 80 on 70th Street.

The turbine is already out of service due to mechanical issues.

Wind Turbine No. 2, located closer to the Lincoln City Landfill, had an initial life expectancy of 25 years.

LES said they have studied the effectiveness of this turbine and are decommissioning it based primarily on the remaining life of the equipment and cost savings for decommissioning this turbine at the same time as Wind Turbine No. 1.

“We know that these two wind turbines are recognizable structures within Lincoln, so LES weighed every decision regarding this project carefully,” said Scott Benson, LES manager of Resource & Transmission Planning, in a press release. “It’s sad to see the turbines go after such a long history, but they will always represent an important stepping stone in our community’s path toward a greener energy future.”