Standing Bear Lake Station

Above ground construction at Standing Bear Lake Station is well underway. All Wartsila engines and generators have been moved into the Engine Hall. The exhaust ducts and stacks are being constructed and installed. Additionally, the substation is nearing the final stages of construction.

Facing South, Aerial View, June 2023

A lot of construction progress has been happening on site the last few months as seen in this aerial photo.

In mid-May, the nine Wartsila engines and generators (seen in blue) will be moved to the new engine hall.

Foundations for the transmission lines have been set along Military Road. Transmission work will be completed this fall in coordination with the energization of the substation onsite.

Facing South – Substation and Generation Construction Progress as of April 2023

Construction progresses during the winter months with erection of the engine hall in the power block area and with erection of vertical bus supports in the substation area at Standing Bear Lake Station.

The large temporary tent structure at the north of the site has been removed following assembly of the nine Wärtsilä engines. The associated generators have also been received. All three Generator Step-up Transformers (GSU) have been transported to the Standing Bear Lake Station site and are on their foundations.

Facing South – Substation and Generation Construction Progress

Beginning Friday, Dec. 9, the first of three Generator Step-up Transformers (GSU) will be transported to the Standing Bear Lake Station site. The GSU transformer will step-up the generator output to a higher voltage to be put on the transmission network. The other two GSUs will be transported later this month.

If members of the public come across this move, we ask that they refrain from approaching employees, contractors or vehicles and stay far back from the work taking place so that we can complete it safely.

Activity continues at the north end of the site near the entrance off Military Road where a large, temporary structure has been erected. OPPD’s vendor will be assembling equipment within that structure over the next few months.

Transmission line work in the vicinity will be starting soon to help connect the new Standing Bear Lake Station and associated substation to the grid.

Beginning Sept. 6 and over the next couple of weeks, OPPD will be working with contractors to transport nine Wärtsilä reciprocating internal combustion engines to the Standing Bear Lake Station, near 114th Street and Military Road. One engine will be moved at a time, with activity occurring later in the evening and going into the overnight hours.

Specialized large equipment movers will be utilized for this effort. Loaded on a trailer, the equipment measures approximately 248’ long by 14’ wide and 19’ tall. The trailer and engine combined will weigh in at 796,000 pounds. These engines were shipped from Italy and then shipped by rail to Nebraska.

Such a massive move will require some road closures for a brief period of time overnight as the equipment travels along its journey. OPPD and the large equipment movers have coordinated with city, county and state officials, as well as members of law enforcement, to ensure the safety of the public and workers along the route.

While such a big move will certainly pique interest, we ask that the public refrain from approaching employees, contractors or vehicles. Please stay a safe distance back, off of streets, so we can complete this important work. Obey all traffic signs and law enforcement officers, who will be stationed at various locations to assist in this process.

Learn more and see video of the move here.

OPPD's vendor, Zachry Group, continues to prepare laydown and storage areas for equipment, materials, and supplies in anticipation of approaching construction work.

A new entrance to the construction area is being placed east of the current entrance off Military Road.

Preliminary grading is winding down and foundation work has begun in preparation for the new facility.

This summer, construction activities will include work on gas and transmission infrastructure, although major equipment isn’t expected to arrive until late summer or early fall.

Grading is nearly complete where the new facility and substation will be located. M.U.D. has also begun installing a portion of gas pipeline at the site ahead of construction.

In mid- to late-April you will notice some additional activity on the northwest corner of the M.U.D. property, near the intersection of 120th and Military. OPPD’s vendor, Zachry, will be using this area for temporary offices, storage of equipment, materials and supplies. Entrances to this area will be off 120th Street, so you may see additional traffic entering and exiting the property at this location. After construction, the area will be restored to its original condition.

Over the next couple months and into the summer, Zachry will begin work on the associated substation and will begin construction on the natural gas plant. In late summer to early fall, transmission lines will be constructed to connect the new plant and substation to the power grid.