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Power with Purpose: Natural Gas

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Solar + Natural Gas

In 2019, OPPD’s Power with Purpose project identified the need for up to 600MW of utility-scale solar and 600MW of balancing natural gas generation to support growing customer demands. The combined solution of utility-scale solar and natural gas continues to support our mission of providing affordable, reliable, environmentally sensitive energy services. While OPPD considers all three parts of our mission equally, new utility-scale solar and balancing natural gas power generation are now must-haves to support continued reliability.

In 2023, the OPPD Board of Directors voted to approve the utility’s recommended near term generation resource plan to address unprecedented growth in energy demand. With this new plan, OPPD remains committed to its Power with Purpose generation expansion projects, which includes Turtle Creek Station (450 MW), Standing Bear Lake Station (150 MW), and Platteview Solar (81 MW).

Natural Gas Solutions

New natural gas facilities provide greater operating flexibility and enable OPPD to further integrate renewable energy into our portfolio, while maintaining affordability, reliability and resiliency.

The new facilities will be used to balance the energy load. The plants will run only as needed (estimated at less than 15% of the time) and will be available to support planned (maintenance) and unplanned (storms) outages, as well as be available to support regional power needs as directed by the Southwest Power Pool. Adding natural gas generation will help OPPD meet the growing energy needs of our service territory and support resiliency. That means OPPD can continue providing energy to our customers even in an unpredictable future.

Energy system modeling, proximity to a gas pipeline and transmission and distribution infrastructure helped determine the best natural gas locations for complementing new solar generation and enhance energy system reliability.

Natural Gas Sites

At OPPD's September 2020 board committee meeting, OPPD unveiled two locations sited for balancing natural gas generation. Read more at OPPD's news website, The Wire, or view the board presentation.

Click buttons below for site specific information.


Adding this generation will help OPPD meet the growing energy needs of our service territory and will enable OPPD’s system to remain resilient. That means OPPD can continue providing energy to our customers even when operations are impacted by a major storm event.

There are many types of gas generation facilities. OPPD is building the new stations to support power reliability if local or regional issues occur. In addition to the new stations that are currently under construction, OPPD has five combustion turbine units in Sarpy County and two in Cass County. OPPD also currently operates reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE). These facilities are smaller than combustion turbines. OPPD currently uses small scale RICE at our Elk City Station.

Cass County Peaking Station
Combustion Turbines
Sarpy County Peaking Station
Combustion Turbines
Small Scale RICE at Elk City Station


This graphic shows the relative height of those facilities as compared to other well-known structures.

Modern technology has greatly evolved regarding the look and sound of these newer natural gas plants. – These newer facilities ramp up quickly. This quick startup adjusts for and stabilizes the variable outputs of wind, solar and other market conditions. It also generates lower emissions than older gas facilities.

OPPD is committed to solutions that are fiscally responsible, and aligned with our mission to provide reliable, affordable and environmentally sensitive energy services to our customers-owners.

Have a question for us about natural gas generation? Click the image below. You may also visit our project pages for Standing Bear Lake Station and Turtle Creek Station to learn more and ask questions about these specific projects.



Solar + Natural Gas

In 2019, OPPD’s Power with Purpose project identified the need for up to 600MW of utility-scale solar and 600MW of balancing natural gas generation to support growing customer demands. The combined solution of utility-scale solar and natural gas continues to support our mission of providing affordable, reliable, environmentally sensitive energy services. While OPPD considers all three parts of our mission equally, new utility-scale solar and balancing natural gas power generation are now must-haves to support continued reliability.

In 2023, the OPPD Board of Directors voted to approve the utility’s recommended near term generation resource plan to address unprecedented growth in energy demand. With this new plan, OPPD remains committed to its Power with Purpose generation expansion projects, which includes Turtle Creek Station (450 MW), Standing Bear Lake Station (150 MW), and Platteview Solar (81 MW).

Natural Gas Solutions

New natural gas facilities provide greater operating flexibility and enable OPPD to further integrate renewable energy into our portfolio, while maintaining affordability, reliability and resiliency.

The new facilities will be used to balance the energy load. The plants will run only as needed (estimated at less than 15% of the time) and will be available to support planned (maintenance) and unplanned (storms) outages, as well as be available to support regional power needs as directed by the Southwest Power Pool. Adding natural gas generation will help OPPD meet the growing energy needs of our service territory and support resiliency. That means OPPD can continue providing energy to our customers even in an unpredictable future.

Energy system modeling, proximity to a gas pipeline and transmission and distribution infrastructure helped determine the best natural gas locations for complementing new solar generation and enhance energy system reliability.

Natural Gas Sites

At OPPD's September 2020 board committee meeting, OPPD unveiled two locations sited for balancing natural gas generation. Read more at OPPD's news website, The Wire, or view the board presentation.

Click buttons below for site specific information.


Adding this generation will help OPPD meet the growing energy needs of our service territory and will enable OPPD’s system to remain resilient. That means OPPD can continue providing energy to our customers even when operations are impacted by a major storm event.

There are many types of gas generation facilities. OPPD is building the new stations to support power reliability if local or regional issues occur. In addition to the new stations that are currently under construction, OPPD has five combustion turbine units in Sarpy County and two in Cass County. OPPD also currently operates reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE). These facilities are smaller than combustion turbines. OPPD currently uses small scale RICE at our Elk City Station.

Cass County Peaking Station
Combustion Turbines
Sarpy County Peaking Station
Combustion Turbines
Small Scale RICE at Elk City Station


This graphic shows the relative height of those facilities as compared to other well-known structures.

Modern technology has greatly evolved regarding the look and sound of these newer natural gas plants. – These newer facilities ramp up quickly. This quick startup adjusts for and stabilizes the variable outputs of wind, solar and other market conditions. It also generates lower emissions than older gas facilities.

OPPD is committed to solutions that are fiscally responsible, and aligned with our mission to provide reliable, affordable and environmentally sensitive energy services to our customers-owners.

Have a question for us about natural gas generation? Click the image below. You may also visit our project pages for Standing Bear Lake Station and Turtle Creek Station to learn more and ask questions about these specific projects.



Page last updated: 18 Dec 2023, 02:08 PM