FAQs

Each solar panel contains photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into energy by producing direct current (DC) electricity. Energy generation from solar panels is affected by seasonal variance in daylight hours and weather, such as overcast or rainy days.  

Because solar panels require sunlight to generate electricity, OPPD relies on other generation resources, such as coal, natural gas units, and wind turbines to generate electricity at night or on cloudy days. OPPD can also purchase electricity from other utilities in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) when market prices are low.  

OPPD continually evaluates the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of power technologies, including energy storage and batteries. Battery storage was included in the modeling process to identify technologies that optimize affordability, reliability/resiliency, and environmental sensitivity. OPPD has received funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for a battery storage project to gain operational experience with storage technologies. This project will be completed in March 2023.

OPPD is specifying minimum structural design standards for solar facilities to withstand high winds. Similarly, the solar industry has put significant research and development into designing solar panels and infrastructure that are not as susceptible to hail damage.  

OPPD continually evaluates the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of power technologies, including solar. The average cost per kilowatt of energy produced from solar panels has decreased significantly in the past few years. Utility-scale solar energy has recently become cost-competitive with traditional generation sources.

Though Nebraska may not have the intensity of sun compared to states in the southwestern United States, there is still plenty of solar power potential. Data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows that Nebraska is ranked 13^th in the nation for solar energy potential. Additionally, advancements in technologies allow solar design firms to better optimize the amount of sun that is actually captured.

In April 2021, OPPD announced the next step in our Power with Purpose initiative -a signed agreement for our first utility-scale solar array, called Platteview Solar. The 81 MW, 500-acre array will be located in Saunders County and marks the first step in our plans for up to 600MW of utility scale solar. OPPD is in the process of determining the best sourcing strategy to acquire additional solar generation needed and additional solar sites will be announced as they are determined.

Generally, five to seven acres of land are required to generate one megawatt of solar power. However, there is some variance, depending on location.

Solar facilities are seen but not heard and require very little maintenance. While a solar facility will change the view of the landscape from certain vantage points, it will not increase noise or traffic for adjacent property owners. Typical solar facilities are approximately 10 feet tall.

Solar facilities require very few components to generate electricity. Racking systems are installed to secure the solar panels to the ground and align the panels at the proper tilt to optimize exposure to the sun. Blocks or rows of panels are connected to inverters, which convert the direct current (DC) electricity output from the solar panels into alternating current (AC), which is usable by our customers. Lastly, onsite transformers deliver medium-voltage power to a nearby substation or other interconnection point to the power grid.

With OPPD Community Solar, you get affordable solar energy to offset your energy use with clean, renewable power without the expense of putting solar on your home. This program allows customers to offset usage with renewable energy beyond OPPD’s blended generation portfolio, that includes coal, natural gas, hydro and wind. For more information, visit the Community Solar Program website.

Utility-scale solar meets a different need. OPPD needs new generation to meet service territory load growth. Many generation technologies were considered to provide accredited capacity while maintaining system reliability and resiliency. OPPD’s planned utility-scale solar will add generation facilities similar to the way that coal, natural gas, and wind generation resources support OPPD’s capacity, reliability, and resiliency needs today.

The OPPD Community Solar program meets a different need than that of utility-scale solar facility. The community solar program was developed in response to OPPD customers’ desire to have a specific solar facility in which they could participate. Community Solar provides individual customers the ability to purchase incremental solar energy above OPPD’s current generation portfolio. Utility-scale solar supports OPPD’s changing generation portfolio based on our growing load and planned retirement of older fossil assets.

That offer is not related to OPPD’s plans for utility-scale solar or community solar. OPPD is not "working with" any residential solar panel provider, although OPPD does have contact on a regular basis from some residential solar panel providers. We recommend that our customers proceed cautiously, as they would for any major purchase. OPPD is always available to answer questions on energy-related matters. The customer service number is (402) 536-4131 within the Omaha area or 1-877-536-4131, toll-free, outside of the Omaha area.

Landowners leasing their property for renewable development will continue to pay yearly property taxes at the current assessed rate even after a solar array is installed. 

Counties receive nameplate capacity tax payments every year for the life of a renewable project that is developed and owned by a renewable energy company. The nameplate capacity tax is set at $3,518 per megawatt (MW). For example, a 100MW project will result in more than $350,000 in new county tax revenue annually to help pay for schools, roads, rural fire districts and other community improvements.

OPPD, as a public power utility and political subdivision, is not required to pay a nameplate capacity tax. OPPD does provide a provide a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to counties equal to 5% of gross revenues, based on OPPD’s prior year sales of electricity in the area. 

OPPD issued a Request for Proposals (RFP), led a comprehensive sourcing process, and reviewed possible sites to meet capacity accreditation, resiliency and reliability needs. Potential projects may be owned either by a developer or OPPD. 

For projects owned by a developer, OPPD and the developer agree to terms and conditions of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The next phase includes local county approvals and construction of the solar facility(ies). Construction is completed by developer(s), not OPPD. However, OPPD will construct substations and transmission lines to connect the project to OPPD’s system. This process is similar to OPPD’s current community solar facility and wind PPA facilities.

OPPD may choose PPA contracts with a developer for federal tax credits, or choose to own a solar project. If OPPD owns a solar project, then OPPD leads planning and construction. OPPD’s current focus remains on contracting with developers. 

At this time, OPPD has contracted to deliver 81MW of the solar generation. As additional contracts are signed, OPPD and solar developers will continue to engage with local communities to share more insights on the development process. OPPD is in the process of determining the best sourcing strategy to acquire additional solar generation.

Solar developers begin siting projects years before signing contracts with a utility or other large customer. Part of a developer’s job is to have sites ready for potential customers to use. Once a utility has issued an RFP, solar developers respond with potential sites. Solar developers have site-ready attributes developed, and are responsible for: 

• Generator Interconnection Agreements (GIA) through the Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
• Land leases (typically, solar developers arrange land leases rather than owning the land)
• Environmental studies 
• Local governmental meetings and permits/zoning 
• Taxes 
• Site design and construction 
• Project ownership 
• Facility operations and maintenance (including ground cover) 
• Decommissioning plans 

Whether the solar generation is owned by OPPD or a developer, the land is restored to its original state.

Yes, new unsubsidized solar (without tax credits) is cheaper than new coal on a levelized cost basis. New solar is comparable to the ongoing costs of existing coal plants. The capital cost to construct a coal facility ($3,000–$6,250/kW) is three to five times more expensive than the capital cost of constructing a new solar facility ($1,200–1,400/kW), while also requiring ongoing fuel costs. These values are based on two industry recognized sources — Lazard Levelized Cost of Energy Study and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Annual Technology Baseline.

Generator Interconnection – Developers/suppliers must have an interconnection plan in place, including an interconnection study with SPP. 

Permitting – The project must be in the process of obtaining all permits with the county and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) where the project is located, ensuring all appropriate extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs) have been included. 

Financial Value - The project must demonstrate the overall best value to meet OPPD’s system needs. 

Environmental Impact – An environmental study must be completed for each site to identify wetlands, flood plains, cultural sites, and endangered species habitat of plants and animals. 

Community Impact – Project development should consider tax implications, educational and employment opportunities, economic development, financial benefits of construction and long-term operations, and other community benefits. 

Land Use – Developers must engage with landowners to determine potential parcels to support the project. Willing landowners will need to enter into voluntary long-term leases. The project site should be developed in a way that reduces impacts to farmland and considers benefits to the surrounding agricultural ecosystem. 

Technical Compliance – Project meets requirements of OPPD’s request for energy, capacity, or other technical needs; and has considered design specifications for severe weather. 

Location – The impact of generation to OPPD’s and others’ electrical systems is known and the project’s proximity to the transmission system is defined. 

Supplier/Developer Experience – Developer is financially stable and has developed/built projects with equivalent specifications. 

Decommissioning – In the agreement, it is clear the land will be restored to its original state when the project is over.

Please find locations and renderings for the natural gas facility, Standing Bear Lake Station, at 120th & Military and Turtle Creek Station, at 168th & Fairview.

A variety of factors are considered when siting a facility, including physical, social, environmental and engineering. Critical factors include access and proximity to supporting infrastructure like transmission lines and natural gas pipelines. The use of existing nearby critical infrastructure helps keep costs low and minimizes additional impacts to surrounding areas. To maintain reliable and resilient service, it is also important for power generation to be near the Omaha metro and growing load requirements in the counties and communities we serve. 

This location will support both recent and future growth in Sarpy County. The area around highways 50 and 370 near Springfield is seeing some of the most growth within all of OPPD’s system. Generation siting takes this into account and utilizes significant investments in our energy delivery system to support this potential. This location supports the necessary infrastructure for growth, just like roads, water and sewer.  

The new facility will be used to balance the energy load. The plant 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.

It will meet all environmental permits and supports the needs of our growing communities while maintaining reliability and resiliency within the changing generation landscape. 

This location is within the zoning jurisdiction of the City of Papillion, and the City has worked collaboratively with OPPD. We will work with the city and nearby communities to mitigate concerns to the best of our ability. We are voluntarily participating in the City of Papillion’s development process to transparently demonstrate our commitment to coexist harmoniously and to accommodate future growth plans. This provides Papillion citizens and leaders with information about the project and the chance to ask questions. It also details how OPPD will support future land use plans, including plans for industrial use in the area along Highway 50.

Following nationwide trends in generation facility siting, at the start of the project, OPPD worked with local developer Noddle Development to reimagine the site for future development that could increase valuations and, ultimately, revenue for the city.  

This site was chosen based on its close proximity to natural gas and transmission infrastructure and proximity to load. It is uniquely positioned between Omaha and Bennington, an area that has experienced expansive population growth and development.

This site also allows OPPD to easily connect the facility to the rest of OPPD’s assets. Locating the facility near critical electric infrastructure, transmission lines on the south side of the Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) property and the west side of 120th Street, allows it to be cost effective and will help support system reliability.

The actual facility will be situated closer to 114th Street and Military Road. This location was chosen to minimize impacts to nearby homes and to take advantage of the natural sloping of the terrain, which lends itself to natural sound abatement and provides a measure of visual screening. Some trees will need to be removed, though options to replant trees and vegetation following construction will be considered. 

Many sites were considered; both existing and new. OPPD understands the importance of being a good neighbor. We are committed to building and maintaining facilities without significant impacts to adjacent properties. OPPD is focused on minimizing the facility footprint to the extent practical, as well as safety, security, sound mitigation, and proper visual screening and aesthetics. During the design phase, we will also work to limit impacts of the facility related to sound, lighting and traffic.

Ultimately, this site optimizes OPPD’s partnership with M.U.D. by co-locating on public property with a similar industrial use. This location provides natural gas pipeline capacity and liquid natural gas reserves should they be needed to support reliability and resiliency system-wide. Finally, by locating on land that is already publicly owned, OPPD will not negatively impact the community tax base. 

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.

It will meet all environmental permits and supports the needs of our growing communities while maintaining reliability and resiliency within the changing generation landscape. The units being considered at this location are similar to back-up generation units used by hospitals, data center, and financial institutions.

After thorough analysis, which included extensive modeling, the two locations in Douglas and Sarpy counties were identified as the most optimal sites.  

Because these facilities run on natural gas, it is imperative that there be access to pipelines and infrastructure to support electricity generation and distribution.  

At Standing Bear Lake Station (120th and Military), the close proximity to existing natural gas infrastructure limits the need to disrupt off-site properties to install or expand natural gas connecting infrastructure. The site features favorable terrain, vegetation, and physical size that is conducive to reducing facility visibility and noise. This location also allows for limited expansion of electrical transmission lines to connect to the OPPD system. Similar technology is common in urban settings, such as those used by hospitals and data centers.  All of these factors help keep costs manageable as we produce electricity for our growing communities. 

At the Turtle Creek Station site in Sarpy County, different generation technologies at that facility require a larger site. The Papillion location also supports load growth in the immediate area.

OPPD will keep its neighbors and stakeholders updated as more details become available, especially when it comes to construction.  OPPD will also work within all permits to ensure construction goes smoothly without significant impacts to the area.

OPPD is accustomed to having wildlife in close proximity to power generation and transmission infrastructure. At a minimum, OPPD will restore any surrounding areas disturbed by site construction and actively seek opportunities to enhance and improve natural habitat and encourage pollinators. OPPD maintains an avian protection plan and program that includes third-party review. The avian protection plan mitigates detrimental effects on migratory birds, and maintains regulatory compliance, while providing customers reliable energy services. OPPD has a proven track record of supporting wildlife and natural habitat.  Wildlife will have plenty of area to live safely near these new facilities. In our prior experience, even if wildlife does leave during construction, they tend to return.

Many of the trees closest to our neighbors will not be touched, the natural sloping of the land and the mature trees near neighborhoods should not be impacted and will act as a natural barrier for our neighbors. In general, the substation facility will be on the east side of the site and the generation facility, associated buildings, and supporting auxiliaries will be on the west side of the site. Based upon many factors still being incorporated into the design, the final location of each portion of the site may vary slightly from initial artist renderings. The selected Engineer, Procure, and Construct (EPC) vendor, Zachry Group, will have responsibility for final site layout and design. OPPD will incorporate landscaping and aesthetics as well as part of final design.

There are safety regulations related to trees in proximity to transmission lines, but there is opportunity for pollinator habitat. Similar efforts are currently on display at the OPPD Arboretum at 108th & Blondo streets. Fencing will be provided only around critical infrastructure like power generation and the substation to protect wildlife, equipment, and system reliability. 

OPPD’s mission is to provide affordable, reliable and environmentally sensitive energy services to our customers, so the environmental impacts of our project is a priority. OPPD will comply with applicable laws and regulations for the construction and operation of these plants. One of the new natural gas facilities, Standing Bear Lake Station, will be co-located with Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) and the other, Turtle Creek Station, is adjacent to the Sarpy County landfill. During the site evaluation process, potential environmental concerns were reviewed through both desktop analysis and on-site surveys. From these environmental studies, OPPD has taken all appropriate measures to ensure we have limited to no adverse impacts to the wildlife in the project study area. As part of the preliminary grading work scope for the site, OPPD has removed a number of trees to facilitate future site design and construction, again complying with environmental regulatory requirements. When tree removal is necessary, OPPD will abide by its avian protection plan, and offset any trees removed with new trees and planting habitat in the final design.

Additional power generation is part of OPPD’s larger effort to be a net-zero carbon emitter by 2050. This effort is called Pathways to Decarbonization. Natural gas assets will play an important role as balancing generation with renewables. 

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.

OPPD will own and operate the natural gas facilities.

Safety is a top priority in every aspect of OPPD’s operations. The utility has decades of experience operating both natural gas and other types of generation facilities in our communities, and this commitment to excellence in safety will continue when new facilities are added.

As we considered proposals for natural gas facilities, we considered the impact to the surrounding area. These new OPPD facilities will adhere to noise ordinances for the area. In addition, landscaping can be utilized to minimize the sound and visual impact to those living and working nearby. For more about the facilities’ appearance, you can view renderings for Standing Bear Lake Station near 120th & Military and Turtle Creek Station near 168th & Fairview.

Our units are dispatched by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) as the balancing authority based on regional and local needs on the grid. These units are necessary to satisfy OPPD’s accredited capacity obligations and can be called into the SPP market for both economic and reliability reasons. 

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.

New natural gas facilities will ramp up to produce energy much faster than North Omaha Station Units 1-3, producing fewer emissions during startup. Since newer units can increase power generation faster, they will be able to stabilize the transmission system quicker, in order to adjust for the variability of wind, solar generation, and other market conditions, at any given time.

The availability of existing natural gas pipelines was one of many factors considered when evaluating potential locations. There will be some natural gas pipeline extensions required to supply fuel to the new sites..

Standing Bear Lake and Turtle Creek Stations are expected to source natural gas originating from the Northern Natural Gas interstate pipeline system.  Additionally, Standing Bear Lake Station will be served through MUD’s gas distribution system.

The back-up natural gas facilities will only operate as a peaking facility when market and load demands warrant their operation. Advancements in equipment technology will support lower emissions. Emissions from the natural gas facilities will be strictly monitored and mitigated according to federal and industry guidelines. We follow guidance by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and State of Nebraska and work within all of their regulations. 

While OPPD is often well below the threshold set by regulators to be protective of human health and the environment, OPPD currently meets or exceeds  all applicable emissions regulations, and strives for continuous improvement in the future.

OPPD has evaluated the expected sound level that will be generated by the new facilities. Studies showed that sound levels near surrounding properties would be less than 55 decibels (dBA) at the generation site boundaries. That sound level is similar to the noise a dishwasher might make. OPPD intends to comply with local ordinances related to sound output (i.e. decibels) allowed during certain times of the day.

Click here to download graphics that show estimated sound levels at each facility.

Both OPPD facilities will be located on sites adjacent to infrastructure facilities with a similar use. Economic impact considerations were made during the siting process. Our evaluation concluded that it is unlikely that home valuations will diminish with new facilities at these sites. 

The facilities, when in service, will both require additional infrastructure to support generation efforts in the area. The electricity generated at each facility will contribute to OPPD’s generation capacity and will be delivered to customers across our service territory. To facilitate this delivery, infrastructure such as transmission lines and substations will be necessary. The main substation to support the generation facility will be co-located with the generation facility. 

OPPD has routed the new transmission lines necessary to deliver the electricity generated by the natural gas facilities to the grid. Additional information about the Sarpy Southwest Transmission Project and the routes for three separate transmission lines in the area near Turtle Creek Station needed to maintain system resiliency and reliability, as well as support customer load growth and future power generation, can be found here: https://www.oppdcommunityconnect.com/sarpy-sw

OPPD will work with contractors to mitigate common concerns like traffic, dust, wind-blown debris, drainage, delivery hours, and work hours. We began grading the site in 2021. Major construction activities began in late spring / early summer 2022 and will continue through 2023. As details become available, they will be shared with the public. All safety guidelines will be met during construction and throughout operations. OPPD coordinates with appropriate government officials and will work to minimize any traffic disruption.

You can expect OPPD to be a good neighbor during and after construction. As updates are available, OPPD is committed to keeping the public and neighbors informed.

OPPD expects minimal disruption to traffic flow near the site during construction or eventual operation of the facilities.  Delivery of major equipment to the site may cause slight traffic delays while moving toward or entering the site, but these will be of limited duration and frequency.

OPPD is committed to provide updates throughout the construction period and ahead of major equipment moves.

The utility has analyzed both current natural gas pricing and evaluated projections for the next 10 to 20 years. While some increases are expected, we are confident the overall cost will remain affordable.  OPPD utilizes fuel diversity system-wide, which helps mitigate this type of volatility. OPPD also utilizes hedging and other tools to provide price protection. Renewable fuels, such as solar, help flatten the peak needs of natural gas.

The new gas plants will be used to balance the energy load. The plant 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.

In addition to our analysis other factors come in to play. Power prices are often correlated with fuel prices, so a higher fuel price will yield a higher power price, this is part of the energy market we are in today. For reliability events that are called on by the market, OPPD will be compensated for our fuel consumed by the Southwest Power Pool.

Through early 2021, OPPD was in the sourcing process for the reciprocating internal combustion engines and simple-cycle combustion turbines for the Standing Bear Lake Station and the Turtle Creek Station, respectively. Following selection of this major equipment, OPPD prepared and submitted an air permit application for each site to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) based on equipment emissions performance, modeling, and use of these generation sites as peaking facilities.  Operational runtime is based on electrical market demand and/or grid resiliency needs. The air permit applications included the estimated potential emissions for each site. OPPD obtained the air permits in 2022. State and Federal regulations are used to set the emissions standards for the selected equipment.  

OPPD has conducted preliminary Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) for both the Standing Bear Lake Station and Turtle Creek Station sites. The purpose of these assessments was to determine the current environmental state of the sites and identify any potential areas of concern to ensure the most optimal site layout and location of infrastructure to minimize or avoid interaction with these potential areas of concern.

When looking at potential discharges constituents for water discharges at each site, OPPD will work with the NDEE to set standards in accordance with Title 117, Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards, and Title 118, Groundwater Quality Standards and Use Classification.  

• OPPD is aware that any discharge shall not be toxic to aquatic life in surface waters of the State outside the mixing zones allowed with the applicable NDEE standard.  
• OPPD shall not contain pollutants at concentrations or levels that produce objectionable films, colors, turbidity, deposits, or noxious odors in the receiving streams or water way.
• OPPD shall not contain pollutants at concentrations or levels that cause occurrence of undesirable or nuisance aquatic life in the receiving stream.  
• OPPD will design containments and use additional technology to ensure no ground water contamination will occur.      

Standing Bear Lake Station: Located near Standing Bear Lake in Omaha, the new Douglas County site will take on that name. Honoring the 19th-century Ponca chief and Native American civil rights leader, the name Standing Bear is one rooted in pride, passion and respect.

Turtle Creek Station: Waterways large and small carve their way through OPPD’s service territory, shaping the landscape and character of the region. The new power generation site is situated just a few hundred meters west of Turtle Creek, a name also shared by a small dam and reservoir. OPPD employees and leadership opted for that name, noting that on top of the geographic connection, the name evokes a pleasant sense of rural community and environmental stewardship.

OPPD’s procurement of new utility-scale solar and natural gas assets is to meet the projected near-term capacity and resiliency needs of the communities we serve.

OPPD's Pathways to Decarbonization study has a goal of net-zero carbon by 2050. Utility-scale solar and natural gas generation recommendations are not a direct outcome of the decarbonization study, but they are consistent with the study’s intent. Specifically, Power with Purpose includes building one of the largest renewable investments in the region. Although not renewable energy, adding balancing natural gas assets will serve an important role by allowing OPPD to further integrate renewable energy, and achieve a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to 2010 levels.

OPPD anticipates that building a utility-scale solar facility will increase the amount of renewable generation within OPPD’s portfolio, building upon the approximate 30.9% of retail sales that was achieved in 2019. The impact on our total load served by renewables is dependent on the solar RFP outcome and future load growth.

Load growth is just one of the factors behind OPPD’s recommendation to add accredited generation capacity. OPPD would still need to add accredited generation capacity even without the recent growth in our industrial class of customers to accomplish OPPD’s previously announced plans to retire North Omaha unit 1-3 and refuel North Omaha Units 4 and 5 to natural gas. Promoting economic development is a key part of OPPD’s mission, helping to strengthen communities in our service territory. Large, steady power loads such as those needed by data centers help use OPPD’s assets more efficiently to the benefit of all customers and act as a catalyst for evolving our generating portfolio.

OPPD needs to increase accredited capacity to meet legal and regulatory requirements. Not all installed solar capacity can be accredited due to seasonal and daily variation in power output. However, when coupled with natural gas generation, OPPD can meet the accredited capacity requirements while optimizing affordability, reliability/resiliency, and environmental sensitivity. The solution would not meet our capacity requirements if not implemented simultaneously.  

OPPD’s modeling process was technology agnostic and included a variety of potential solutions including new generation, existing assets, new voltage support resources and new demand side resources.   Examples of these technologies included, but are not limited to, combustion turbines, reciprocating engines, photovoltaic solar, combined cycle, synchronous condensers, statcoms, transmission expansion, as well as over 4,000 other potential demand side management solutions.  OPPD leverages the best modeling software available in the market to assess the different options.  A more detailed review of this process is available in the October 2019 presentation to the Board of Directors.

The decision to decommission Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station was based on the high operating costs and commitment to keeping rates affordable. The decision to decommission North Omaha Station Units 1-3 was based largely on the goal to reduce OPPD’s emissions, as well as the age of those assets.

OPPD needs to increase accredited capacity beyond our existing capacity to meet legal and regulatory requirements. Therefore, adding utility-scale solar and natural gas facilities is in addition to OPPD’s existing portfolio. OPPD will carry out the 2014 board decision to refuel North Omaha units 4 and 5 from coal to gas and to retire units 1-3. At this time, there are no additional plans to decommission other coal-fired power plants in OPPD’s portfolio. However, we intend to further evaluate the pathway and implications of the next steps to decarbonize our generation fleet as part of our decarbonization study.

OPPD’s modeling process evaluated additional wind capacity as an alternative. Off-system wind, meaning wind power located outside of OPPD’s service territory, was not recommended because additional wind power would not satisfy our accredited capacity needs coupled with the resiliency requirements.

Sharing OPPD’s recommendation to add additional solar and natural gas generation is part of our ongoing stakeholder engagement process. Our journey began in 2019, when OPPD accepted public comment via OPPDListens.com to gauge customer understanding of what we’re trying to solve, the framework that shapes our decisions and the clarity of the analysis. We continue to engage with stakeholders and provide regular updates as the process moves forward.

All new generating facilities require interconnection to the existing transmission grid. The proximity and available capacity of existing substations and transmission lines is one of many factors considered when evaluating potential locations for new generating facilities. New transmission lines will leverage a routing and public involvement process that incorporates the many social, environmental and engineering criteria that contribute to the most optimal route.

OPPD continually evaluates the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of power technologies, including energy storage and batteries. Battery storage was included in the modeling process to identify technologies that optimize affordability, reliability/resiliency, and environmental sensitivity; however, battery storage was not recommended because it does not meet multi-day resiliency needs and is costly at this time. That said, OPPD received funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for a battery storage pilot project to gain operational experience with storage technologies.

Voltage refers to the pressure from a power source to deliver electricity. Using water as an analogy, think of voltage as the water pressure in pipes. Just like you expect consistent water pressure when you turn on a faucet, OPPD uses voltage-support devices to maintain a consistent quality of electricity for our customers.

Demand is the amount of electricity (or energy) that OPPD’s service area requires to meet customer needs. Generally speaking, peak demand, or the day OPPD’s service area requires the most electricity, occurs during the summer when the days are longer and hotter. 

Capacity represents how much electricity OPPD can generate if all assets are running at the highest level of output. 

OPPD is required, per the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), to maintain a generating capacity reserve margin of 15% above peak demand. This ensures a reliable supply of power in the region.  

Adding new utility-scale solar and natural gas power generation facilities will benefit all of OPPD’s service territory by contributing to the consistent level of resiliency in the system, while optimizing affordability, reliability and environmental sensitivity. In the short term, large capital projects such as these also provide economic benefits to regional businesses for design and construction-related services. Local hospitality and retail businesses also benefit from the construction activity in the area.

OPPD is committed to stakeholder outreach. Natural gas locations were announced in Sept. 2020, and we are listening to, informing and consulting with those residing near the project locations. Real-time project updates will be available on a regular basis.  

The projects are continuing to move forward in the design phase, which includes the procurement of equipment and site layouts. Outreach will continue throughout this phase, with even more focus as construction begins. We will also provide continued updates as requested by various stakeholder groups.

As solar facilities are finalized, OPPD and the developer will coordinate the announcement of the selected sites. When available, OPPDCommunityConnect will link to the developer’s project website for more information.

OPPD will continue to take feedback and additional questions as the project moves forward through OPPDCommunityConnect.com. Those interested can also visit the site to learn more about the project and to access our extensive list of frequently asked questions.