" Pickens wants huge government subsidies to bankroll his energy ventures, namely his wind energy ventures. I wonder why the story didn't mention that? He's never made a move in his life that he didn't figure would make him a bundle. "

" A former oil man all about finding alternative sources...and he actually means it?! Awesome! I've always wondered why LES stopped at two wind turbines...keep building them!!! California has fields of them!! "

" LES wind turbines are the smallest turbines around. They are .5 megawatt compared to 2.5-3 megawatt that sustains the entire town of Rockport, Missouri on wind provided electricity (only 4 of them purchased by the town). There are also a little over a hundred and counting just to the east along US Hwy 136.

LES's two are just a publicity tool to get people/environmentalists off of their back. While in reality LES invest's nothing in renewables. And they should be ashamed. "

" A ridiculous greedy oil billionaire! Won't do a thing about gasoline! "

" This is a good move. The man has already said that he doesn't need any more money personally. I think any move to get off middle east oil is good. Even if it makes some dude in Texas more money. As long as it stays in the USA!!! "

" If we would have taken all the money spent in Iraq, and invested in wind turbines, we would be that much closer to independence. When will we all learn it's not about being a Rep or Dem, its about our survival. Please, let's stop thinking about profit and think about humanity. "

" "He's never made a move in his life that he didn't figure would make him a bundle"

You mean other than the millions he's donated to charities? The guy has given away millions. I realize it's hard to look stuff up on Wikipedia, but you may wish to start there before you slander someone. "

" Whoa, name a big business in Nebraska that isn't getting a subsidy. I wonder why some to choose to ignore that fact. Build the wind farms and build a crapload of them. Most businessmen don't make a move unless the expect to make a bundle. "

" He's investing his money to make more money. That's how he made his millions and that's why this is the greatest country in the world. He's willing to take the risk and help get us off of oil independence and you are going to complain about it? "

" Wind Energy sounds good and all BUT come on people. It is not reliable AT ALL. First off the wind has to blow in order for it to work. Second of all, if the wind blows too much you can't run them either. So you need a light breeze...which you don't get here. "

" Pickens is from Oklahoma not Texas. "

" Exactly, Boone Pickens wants government subsidies just like Warren Buffet and Mid American Energy are getting huge Agriculture subsidies. The wind enery subsidies are coming out of the farm bill. Boone is a huge donator but has gotten that way because he is an excellent businessman. He will make millions off wind energy. Johanns didn't want winder energy as a governor because he said wind is not economically feasible. Then he went to Washington and made it feasible with the farm bill subsidies. Go Mike help Boone and Warren become wealthier. "

" I think Wind farms are the wave of the future! I seriously doubt if there wasn't oil in Iraq, we wouldn't be there. I would like to reach a point where the Iraq oil goons would have so much oil they would have drink it for a beverage! Hey, come on T. Boone,wants to do something good......before he checks out! "

" Wind not reliable?!?!?! Last time I checked wind isn't going to stop blowing. And sure, some of the turbines are expensive. However there is a new plant that manufactures some of the best turbines in the world right here in our backyard (Columbus). So we might as well kill two birds with one stone by increasing our manufacturing (which continues to dwindle in this state) and have renewable power that does not pollute (besides manufacturing the turbines).

And build the 3 megawatt turbines like a poster said above for gosh sakes. Those two in Lincoln are tiny! "

" Bless the poster who made the correction that Boone is from Oklahoma. Now I want you Cornhuskers to grill him, ya hear! "

" hey...not: Wind turbines and their optimal/minimal operation speeds are all relative to the design and size of turbines used. Many turbine types can operate with wind speeds up to 45 mph (two blade systems). When winds are greater for the brief period the turbines are turned off and controlled at a central location to limit stress. I have land near Conception, Missouri and have four 2.5 megawatt turbines on it and no pretty much everything about the turbine type put up in this area(and even got to walk the inside stairs up to the gearbox at the top of one).

They actually take up only minimal land at the bottom and need nearly no maintenance. Much of the cost to put them up (over 30%) is actually due to transporting the large turbines due to cost of fuel and road access. So in central nebraska it should eliminate much of the cost due to the easy access and turbine manufacuring ability very close by (Kantana's new plant in columbus).

Thus, all your points are invalid and all NE is lacking is a good power grid extension to transport the power to Omaha/Lincoln because that is where most of the power can be instantly used and the coal/nuclear plants can continue to support rural NE with the low voltage lines currently supporting them. "

" Look up tboonepickensplan.com online. It's really good. There is nothing to criticize. We have the wind, and the sun I might add but everyone seems to think wind is the best choice. There is much more sun than wind and solar arrays don't encroach on the horizon or kill birds and bats.

Pickens is an oil man gone wind. If we could get more oil goons to make the switch, we would prevent trillion dollar wars that cost us thousands of lives. Oh wait, who's that funny VP guy we have who drinks oil for breakfast?

In sheer abundance alone, solar and wind power are the way.

Welcome T Boone Pickens! "

" Wind turbines are quite interesting. The bigger, the more efficient. And, not everywhere is a 'perfect' place for them. Nebraska Public Power in Columbus has tricked out technology that can measure a site for effectiveness. I don't think the edge of Lincoln is one such place. Of course, that leads us to the transmission and storage challenges but for quantity, wind is super abundant. Too much wind can cause them to break. They have a braking system, so when you see them blow, they'll always look llke they are going one speed to somehow maximize efficiency. Nebraska ranks 6th in the country for wind power. We should be all over it but alas, we lag behind as usual... "

" Pickens is a real American. He made his millions by working 80-90 hours a week, sacrificing everything, giving away his millions, and living the American dream. Now he has the guts to do something new because of his love for our country and his disgust for politicians. So sad to think that so many Americans hate him for the qualities I just described. "

" I sure wish people would do a little research before spewing their opinions about things like wind power. As someone else pointed out, turbines can operate over a wide range of wind speeds if designed properly for the area where they will be used. Wind is one thing we've got plenty of in Nebraska (and that's not even counting some of those who post here!). Heck - I've got a small turbine in my back yard, and it spins away whenever the wind is between about 12MPH on up (WAY up!) with no problem at all. Personally, I'd like to see the government bring back some more of the alternative energy tax credits so more people would put them up. Local generation can be much more efficient (no distribution system needed!) and there's nothing quite like watching the turbine spin and the watts rolling in. "

" Calm down, everyone. There is plenty of oil; so much, in fact, that many generations beyond us will never want to energy. Understand that oil is a commodity; brokers and oil folks want investors to use crude to pad retirement accounts for inflationary shifts. By saying that we are running out of oil is a great way of inflating the value, which, in turn, grows people's retirement accounts. Every time a hurricane is a-comin', or Iran gets janky, or Nigeria has rebels that threaten pipeline disruption, the price shoots up, even though those events have not occured yet. It is pure hysteria, speculation and conjecture. I would be wagering that if gas was under $2.00/gallon, none of this wind junk would be brought up by T. Boone Pickens. Check his investments; you'll see why he "cares" about wind power. "

" I sure hope LES and the Lincoln City council go and listen to this gentleman. At least Pickens knows what he is talking about, our leaders could learn something. "

" Wind turbines mean dead birds. More turbines means more dead birds. And developers continue to ignore the problem while the birds suffer! Ignorance is not bliss in this case! "

" glass patio doors mean dead birds. More glass patio birds mean more dead birds. And developers continue to ignore the problem while avian americans suffer! "

" Please look into studies done about turbines killing birds. Seems many are crying fowl (tee he he) without knowing the facts. Turbine technology continues to improve and is safer for birds now. Larger blades spin slower with gearing that produces more energy while being safer for birds. On average a turbine will kill 1-2 birds a year. Many other man made structures take a much higher tool on birds.
http://www.awea.org/faq/sagrillo/swbirds.html "

" I hit probably 30 birds a year with my semi. Maybe we should stop hauling goods using semi's. "

" I am whole heartedly in favor or renewable energy, and wind power seems like a good option. However I have a hard time listening to this TB Pickens fellow, knowing his background. There is nothing wrong with making a lot of money, except perhaps how you make it. Pickens didn't make billions in the oil industry as a good guy just looking out for the best interests of the country. He is also one of the big financial supporters of the Swift Boat smear campaign back during the 2004 elections, and recently reneged on a $1 million challenge to anyone proving the Swift Boat guys were lying.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/062608dnnatpickens.3a6c2d1b.html "

" reason why we shouldn't do this? This would make 0 sense to not get started right away. But just like most Nebraskans they have to find something negative about. First people complain about high energy prices then when there is a plan to combat that they complain. Typical Nebraska! "

" I agree with Give me one... This is a positive move towards our future but everyone has to complain about it. Ooooh, its too windy for turbines, oooh its not windy enough, oooh, won't someone please think of the birds, ooooh someone is making money on improving the future of human beings. Enough complaining and get this ball a rollin already. "

" really need to do research before you pass judgement on T. Boone. This man knows our energy crisis and is the only one with enough money and brave enough to head up this project. So either get on board or sit on the side of the road that is negative. "

" open up a kfc under every new wind turbine farm. "

" Does it really matter if Mr. Pickens stands to gain from wind energy? There is nothing that says you or I can't invest our money into developing wind energy and therefore cash in on the potential.

Who would you rather have "cashing in" on energy? A tax paying American who makes numerous charitable donations or the Saudi government?

The other "arguments" against wind (lack of consistent wind, dead birds, etc) are silly and easily refuted.

Why are people so opposed to energy independence? "

" The problem with wind power is that the summer time is when demand is at its peak and most of the time when it is 105 degrees out, there isn't very much wind. Also, you can't store electricity, it has to be used at the time of production. My husband is in the electric utility business and is no fan of wind power because of this. "

" I used to wonder why pictures of people in the midwest always would show folks with really short hair on women. then I came to Lincoln and my hair was either in my face or blowing in some goofy way from all the wind. Now I know. this place has 24/7 non stop wind and its being wasted by using coal to generate electricity. How dumb is that? Pickens is right on. We have way more natural gas in this country than the rest of the world has oil so why not use it? "

" To "The problem with wind power": Thanks Captain Obvious, but didn't you read some of the posts above?!?! We still obviously need nuclear and coal plants for backup, but a mix of solar (20%) and wind (80%) of renewable power is a perfect mix in this state. Clouds don't hang around too long and there is always a good breeze coming from somewhere. And as far as transporting the "wind provided" energy: I see most of the high voltage new transmission lines only leading from Central/Wester Nebraska to Omaha, Lincoln and large towns along the way (columbus, fremont, GI etc. Shoot, all you need is one transmission line going along I-80 and you should be good to go! 90% of Nebraska's population resides along a single and fairly straight line, THE INTERSTATE!

Pretty darn simple and a no brainer. "

" By the way, you're wrong that wind power can not be stored. The technology has been there and is already being implemented in Iowa.

Again people, stop making on your opinions based on hearsay. Use your own brains to make up your decisions and do a little research (aka READ!) for once.

http://news.cnet.com/Saving-wind-power-for-later/2100-11392_3-6170659.html "

" Do you live in Nebraska? It is windy here almost everyday. And you can store power with wind. Obviously your husband is misinformed. And this is just to help with our energy crisis. Why do people like you have to be negative about everything? This is to help us for the future and either you in or out. "

" We need wind energy and we need the jobs it can produce in the upper penninsula of michigan "

" Sorry to many of you (This is Good, Chris, investment, etc.)--
THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING GREEN!
See this for the truth about the Picken's plan and motivations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70HFEHB6dag

This is about water and destroying the environment, while making it sound like a good, green thing! I'm all about wind power, but that is not his motivation. It's the cover-up. "