The Omaha Public Power District board is no longer scheduled to vote on a step in its transition away from coal at the North Omaha Power Station.On Thursday, the board was set to vote on awarding a key contract on the transition. But the vote was paused after discussion at Tuesday’s OPPD Committee Meeting.OPPD had said it was planning to move away from coal in North Omaha and would be using natural gas there by 2026. The move came amid a lawsuit from the Nebraska Attorney General, who argued the plan goes against the core mission of public power established by the Nebraska Legislature.Attorney General Mike Hilgers said OPPD’s wants would make energy less reliable and more expensive.The OPPD Board held a closed session Tuesday morning to discuss the state’s lawsuit.OPPD Board Vice Chair Mary Spurgeon addressed the agenda item later in the meeting.”Local control is fundamental to the public power system in Nebraska,” Spurgeon said. She said OPPD and Nebraska public power entities have been some of the “most reliable and affordable in the nation.”She continued: “Over the past few months, the board has evaluated and done our due diligence related to whether the conversation of the station should be paused in light of changed facts. In considering that decision, I assure you that the board has and will act in the best interest of our customer owners.”The board then agreed to remove the vote on bids on Request For Proposal 6208 from Thursday’s agenda.Advocates of North Omaha’s environment and health say OPPD should have moved forward with its plan absent a court order.A group has been pushing for the transition away from coal for years.Bold Nebraska started a petition asking OPPD to move forward. Bold Land Justice Director and state Sen. Terrell McKinney says the petition has more than 400 signatures.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
The Omaha Public Power District board is no longer scheduled to vote on a step in its transition away from coal at the North Omaha Power Station.
On Thursday, the board was set to vote on awarding a key contract on the transition. But the vote was paused after discussion at Tuesday’s OPPD Committee Meeting.
OPPD had said it was planning to move away from coal in North Omaha and would be using natural gas there by 2026.
The move came amid a lawsuit from the Nebraska Attorney General, who argued the plan goes against the core mission of public power established by the Nebraska Legislature.
Attorney General Mike Hilgers said OPPD’s wants would make energy less reliable and more expensive.
The OPPD Board held a closed session Tuesday morning to discuss the state’s lawsuit.
OPPD Board Vice Chair Mary Spurgeon addressed the agenda item later in the meeting.
“Local control is fundamental to the public power system in Nebraska,” Spurgeon said. She said OPPD and Nebraska public power entities have been some of the “most reliable and affordable in the nation.”
She continued: “Over the past few months, the board has evaluated and done our due diligence related to whether the conversation of the station should be paused in light of changed facts. In considering that decision, I assure you that the board has and will act in the best interest of our customer owners.”
The board then agreed to remove the vote on bids on Request For Proposal 6208 from Thursday’s agenda.
Advocates of North Omaha’s environment and health say OPPD should have moved forward with its plan absent a court order.
A group has been pushing for the transition away from coal for years.
Bold Nebraska started a petition asking OPPD to move forward. Bold Land Justice Director and state Sen. Terrell McKinney says the petition has more than 400 signatures.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |