According to a recent U.S. Wind Industry Market Report from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Nebraska boasted the highest growth rate of wind energy capacity in the nation in 2018 by adding 558 megawatts, an increase of more than 38 percent over the previous year. Kutak Rock’s Renewable Energy Group led the way as counsel for projects that added more than 500 megawatts, or 85 percent, of last year's new capacity.

According to the report, Nebraska currently has 1,972 megawatts of installed wind capacity which ranks 14th nationally and represents about $3.5 billion of capital investment. At the end of 2018, another 1,100 megawatts were either under construction or in advanced planning stages, the report said.

When it comes to the economic impact, the report said Nebraska's wind projects paid an estimated $8.5 million in state and local taxes, more than $5 million in land lease payments and employed approximately 4,000 people in 2018.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports Nebraska is third in the nation for wind potential and has the strongest, most reliable wind in the country. Nebraska’s wind farms operating today generate enough electricity to power more than 500,000 homes.

During the past several years, Kutak Rock’s Renewable Energy Group has helped clients develop, finance, structure and close more than 1,500 megawatts of installed solar and wind capacity and more than a gigawatt of additional renewable energy projects currently in development.