Utility consortium looks to Nebraska new build

Four public power utilities - Lincoln Electric System, Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District and Grand River Dam Authority - have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form the consortium, which will be coordinated by a steering committee led by Nebraska Public Power District. It will focus on feasibility studies, site evaluations and technology assessments for between 1,000 and 2,000 MW of new nuclear capacity including small modular reactors (SMRs). All four utilities are members of the Southwest Power Pool, a regional transmission organisation covering 14 states which are part of the USA's Eastern Interconnection grid.

Each utility will fund its own early-stage work. Any future steps, such as investment, permitting or construction, would follow public engagement and each utility's independent board approval process, the consortium said.

Nebraska Public Power District - a publicly owned utility and a political subdivision of the State of Nebraska - already operates the single-unit Cooper, Nebraska's only currently operating nuclear power plant, and is working on a nuclear feasibility siting study funded through the Nebraska Legislature and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to identify sites that have the potential to host SMRs. The consortium is not connected to that study, but said it will utilise the results during the evaluation and planning process.

"Nuclear technology has long proven to be a dependable and resilient energy source," said Nebraska Public Power District President and CEO Tom Kent. "Public power utilities have a strong tradition of collaboration, and this consortium strengthens that legacy as we work together to meet the region's growing energy demands." The ongoing siting feasibility study "positions us proactively as the consortium begins exploring opportunities to deploy this technology within Nebraska", he added.

Omaha Public Power District is the licensee of the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant which ceased operations in 2016 and is in decommissioning. President and CEO Javier Fernandez described the formation of the consortium as a "smart, forward-looking step for public power", adding: "We're exploring all viable options to ensure we can continue to deliver reliable, affordable energy and we're doing it in a way that's transparent, collaborative and grounded in data."

Each utility will fund its own early-stage work. Any future steps, such as investment, permitting or construction, would follow public engagement and each utility's independent board approval process, and no construction or investment decisions have been made as yet.