NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska (KNOP) – Earlier this month, the Nebraska Public Power District announced that the community of Sutherland in Lincoln County was among 16 suitable sites for the construction of a new small nuclear power plant with a modular reactor.
On Monday morning, Lincoln County Commissioners discussed officially designating Lincoln County as a nuclear weapons-friendly county.
“The Gerald Gentleman Substation is located just outside the Sutherland portion of the district I represent and is critical to this community. It generates well over a quarter of a billion dollars annually for Lincoln County and this would just add to that,” said Fourth District Commissioner Chris Bruns. “Strong community support at all levels will move us up that list.”
Rusty Kemp, director of NPPD Subdivision 5 in Tryon, emphasized the need for additional electricity for continued economic growth.
“Currently in Nebraska, we tell any developer that needs more than five megawatts to wait until 2029,” Kemp said. “We’re just at the end of our power supply, so if you’re like me and want this state to grow and prosper, I would encourage you to do whatever you can to increase Nebraska’s baseload. Just for reference, this little project here on the east side of town (Sustainable Beef, LLC) has a need for over 40 megawatts, so if that was required today, that probably wouldn’t happen.”
Lincoln County resident Duane McClain thanked the Lincoln County Commissioners for considering this designation.
“Today is the day we usher in the energy future of Lincoln County and the region,” McClain said. “There is a chance some of you will not live to see it happen, but we must start now because this process could take a decade.”
Commissioners voted unanimously to designate Lincoln County as nuclear-friendly. The second phase of NPPD’s next general nuclear feasibility study is expected to take about two years to complete as the number of possible sites narrows from the current 16 to four.
In another business area, Tallgrass Energy, the parent company of the Trailblazer Pipeline that runs alongside Highway 83 near Wellfleet in rural Lincoln County, has begun the process of emptying the pipeline of natural gas as the process of converting the remaining natural gas into carbon dioxide nears completion.
Authorities expect this process to trigger a major outbreak this week.
“That flare point will be here in Lincoln County,” Bruns said. “They expect the flare to burn off residual natural gas as early as tomorrow (Tuesday). The flare point is on the Trail Blazer Pipeline, right off Highway 83.”
Bruns stressed that the North Platte Fire Department and Emergency Services were informed of the fire and that there was no cause for public concern.
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