Under the Nebraskan Sun ☀️

The Lincoln Ledger: December 6th, 2024

December 06, 2024

Happy Friday Ledgers,

Winter may still be a few weeks away on the calendar, but Mother Nature didn’t get the memo. Thursday morning’s biting winds and a low of 12 degrees were a rude awakening for all of us. But don’t despair—this weekend promises a much-needed reprieve, with sunshine and the perfect excuse to soak up every ounce of vitamin D before the cold turns Lincoln into a frozen tundra.

In this week’s issue:

  • Solar: A vote for a major Nebraska solar project was delayed.

  • What to do: Taylor Fest, Turbine Flats, and Winter Market.

  • Sportz: The greatest hockey player there never was.

  • Neighborhood Watch: Levels on levels on levels.

Keep an eye on your inbox this weekend. Something special might just sneak down your chimney. 🎅

- Landon

SOLAR

Vote on a 2,400-acre solar farm near Hallam delayed. ☀️

The Panama Energy Center, a 2,400-acre solar farm near Hallam, has been temporarily delayed. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission postponed its vote on the project until December 18 to allow developer NextEra Energy to address concerns raised by residents, many of whom reported receiving late or no notification about the project.

About the project… The solar farm, estimated at $600 million, would generate 304 megawatts—enough to power 50,000 homes annually—and bring $7 million in annual economic benefits, including $1.4 million in local tax revenue over its operational lifespan.

What happened?… Residents voiced several objections during a three-hour public hearing, including:

  • Property Values: Fears of reduced home values and noise from nearby inverters.

  • Traffic & Safety: Concerns over construction traffic and glare from the panels affecting drivers.

  • Environmental Impact: Risks to wildlife, including bald eagles, and habitat loss.

  • Farmland Loss: The solar farm would take arable land out of production.

What’s next?… The Planning Commission will vote on December 18, with further appeals possible to the Lancaster County Board. The project’s outcome will weigh the push for renewable energy against the concerns of those living nearby.

This fierce debate on investment in solar energy harkens back to the big pipeline debate a few years back. When it comes to energy infrastructure, the polarization in public opinion is as heated as a Secret Lives of Mormon Wives girls trip.

📌 Why it matters…
The Panama Energy Center advances clean energy and brings economic benefits, but balancing these gains with local concerns over property values, land use, and environmental impacts will shape the future of renewable energy in Nebraska.

🗒️ Sources (the actual journalists)

WHAT TO DO

Taylor Fest, Turbine Flats, and Winter Market.

From Swifty singalongs to holiday shopping bliss, this weekend has something for everyone.

🎤 Friday: Taylor Fest
Going through a breakup? Girl bossed too close to the sun? Recently turned 15, 22 or always thought something seemed off about Jake Gyllenhall? The antidote is clearly screamsinging at Lincoln’s Taylor Fest. Tonight you’ll grab last-second tickets and let your inner Swifty shine at Taylor Fest at The Bourbon. Dress the part, sing along, and enjoy an evening of bedazzled clothing and friendship bracelets.

Alternative: Turbine Flats Snowflake Showcase
Not feeling Taylor? Head to Turbine Flats for the Snowflake Showcase, a cozy holiday market featuring local makers and unique gifts. It’s the perfect way to kick off a weekend filled with holiday events.

🛍️ Love, The Locals Holiday Market
Shop small and local at Love, The Locals Holiday Market, now in its ninth year and hosted at Canoyer Garden Center on 94th and Van Dorn. Enjoy a spacious, temperature-controlled shopping experience with tons of parking and talented local makers from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. It’s holiday shopping made easy.

🕯️Wax Buffalo Winter Market
The most magical day in the Haymarket is back. Wax Buffalo’s Winter Market on O Street features over 150 local vendors, delicious food and drinks, and twinkling holiday lights. Don’t miss the expanded Kid Zone, Candy Land, and endless holiday vibes. It’s the ultimate one-day event to soak in the season and support local makers.

SPORTZ

Sporting headlines from around the capital.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Levels on levels on levels. 🏡

This week, we bring you a home with more layers than your favorite green ogre. A split-level masterpiece—with another split level on top of it—this midcentury modern gem is searching for its next caretaker. Designed to create moments, this home is a series of vignettes: a moment for reading, a moment for gathering, a moment for dining, and a moment for unwinding. Every level invites you into a new chapter of your day, all while being bathed in natural light that filters beautifully through its wood dividers.

Set on nearly ¾ of an acre in the heart of The Knolls—a neighborhood celebrated for its rich architectural character—this home is both a retreat and a vantage point. Large windows frame the seasons like living works of art, allowing you to enjoy every snowfall, sunset, and spring bloom from your cozy corner of Lincoln. Cookie cutter home? Could never be her.

The Details:

  • 3 beds, 4 baths

  • 4,218 sq/ft

  • Built in 1965

  • Some very mustard office carpet

❤️ KEEP: The siding, the gigantic front door (feel free to change the color), the kitchen cabinets, the vast windows serving natural lighting, and the modern pendant light in the dining room.

🗑️ TOSS: The textured ceilings, the flooring in the kitchen, the bathrooms, and the not-so-modern pendant lights.

CHECKLIST

An over-ambitious weekend to-do list.

  • Write a holiday letter and send it to your friends and family.

  • Confirm your ski trip details with friends.

  • Call your sibling to see what they’re up to.

  • Clean off your space heater.

  • Put out any remaining holiday decorations.

  • Purchase a warmer coat for winter.

HEADLINES

More news from around the capital.

🐯 Weekly Wildcard:
One headline (or post) we never saw coming.

ABOUT TLL

We created this sliver of the internet to make it easy for no-coasters to keep tabs on what’s happening in Lincoln and to give you new ideas on how to spend your time.