R-Project update, valuation protests face County Board
A federal judge has granted a partial temporary injunction against the R-Project transmission line due to concerns over endangered American burying beetle habitat. Despite this, the Nebraska Public Power District plans to proceed with construction in areas not affected by the injunction. Lincoln County commissioners will be briefed on the project, hear property valuation protests, and consider a zoning enforcement action.
Lincoln County commissioners are set to receive an update from Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) officials regarding the R-Project, a planned 345-kilovolt transmission line. This briefing follows a recent federal court decision by U.S. District Judge Tina Wang of Denver, who issued a partial temporary injunction on June 8 against a revised federal "incidental take permit" issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
This permit is critical for the project's impact on endangered American burying beetles, specifically allowing NPPD to disturb and relocate the beetles along the 226-mile route. Despite the partial injunction, which is the second federal obstacle for the project in six years, NPPD has indicated it will commence construction in counties where the beetles are not present, including Lincoln County.
In May, the County Board had already granted conditional use permits for five temporary "fly yards" within Lincoln County's segment of the route. NPPD intends to initiate construction from the Gerald Gentleman Station near Sutherland, moving eastward and northward towards the county line near Stapleton.
Beyond the R-Project discussion, commissioners will also address 245 property valuation protests for 2026 and consider a zoning enforcement action against Primivito and Renee Franco concerning a 4.81-acre lot east of Lake Maloney.