As Nebraska seeks to grow, Omaha’s energy capacity is a major hurdle
Omaha Public Power District has less than 100 megawatts of capacity available for new or expanding large customers, creating a potential obstacle for data centers and other economic development projects. The utility is evaluating major additions to its generation portfolio as demand rises and existing grid infrastructure ages.
The Omaha Public Power District says it has less than 100 megawatts of available capacity for new or expanding large customers in the coming years. OPPD President and CEO Javier Fernandez said projects requiring 2 megawatts or more may have to wait for service, a constraint that could affect data centers, manufacturing facilities and other developments seeking to locate in the Omaha area.
Companies with nearly 2,000 megawatts of proposed economic development projects are in OPPD's queue through 2031, with another 5,000 megawatts of potential projects under consideration. OPPD is planning how much to expand its current 4,583-megawatt portfolio, weighing the risk of building too little capacity against forcing ratepayers to cover unnecessary infrastructure if projected demand does not materialize.