Power with Purpose: Solar

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, the need for new utility-scale solar and natural gas power generation is now a must-have 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).

Platteview Solar

OPPD signed a contract for an 81-megawatt solar array spread across approximately 500 leased acres south of Yutan, Neb., in eastern Saunders County. When complete, this facility will be capable of powering around 14,000 average homes. The facility’s name: Platteview Solar. This is the first solar contract announced as part of Power with Purpose. You can read more at OPPD's news website, The Wire.

In April 2021, OPPD signed a power purchase agreement with Community Energy for this solar array. At the end of 2021, AES purchased Community Energy, becoming the long-term owner and operator of the Platteview Solar facility. Learn more from AES about Platteview Solar here.

On July 11, 2024, OPPD joined AES for a ribbon cutting for Platteview Solar. You can read more in this article in The Wire.

K-Junction

On July 18, 2023, OPPD entered into an agreement with EDF Renewables North America (EDF) that allows OPPD to conduct deeper due diligence around the viability of the K-Junction Solar site in York County for OPPD's generation needs. Should OPPD determine the site will meet its generation needs, it would finalize the agreement to fully develop the project. OPPD would follow the local and state processes, including review and approval by the Nebraska Power Review Board, if applicable, to bring the project online.

If the site is viable, it will allow OPPD to achieve a total of 391 MW of solar generation (including 81MW from Platteview Solar in Saunders County) as part of our Power with Purpose project. Please refer back to the K-Junction project page often, as updates will be presented where when available. You can read more about this potential project at OPPD's new website, The Wire.

Project Update

Beyond Platteview, and the potential opportunity at K-Junction, OPPD is analyzing additional solar sites across the service territory with important factors including: proximity to transmission, potential for support of future growth load, suitability for geographical and topographical criteria, and viability. OPPD may choose PPA contracts with a private developer, or choose to own a solar project based on the best overall value to OPPD customers. At this time, OPPD is in the process of determining the best sourcing strategy to acquire additional solar generation needed for up to 600 MW of utility-scale solar for Power with Purpose.

Now is the time to take advantage of solar technology, as costs have come down and the technology has improved. Adding solar generation will help OPPD meet the growing energy needs of our service territory and maintain a resilient and reliable system.

OPPD is leading the way we power the future. This is the next evolution in our generation portfolio.

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