Omaha Public Power District has signed a power purchase agreement with Nebraska-based Sandhills Energy for a new 250-megawatt facility coming to Burt County, Neb., OPPD reported on May 27.
Burt County Solar is expected to be in service within 2029.
The PPA “marks another milestone in the utility’s work to grow and diversify its energy portfolio to meet rapidly increasing demand throughout our service territory and region. OPPD anticipates load growth of approximately 100 MW, equivalent to 65 metro area high schools or mid-sized hospitals, annually for the foreseeable future,” it said.
“We are working hard to ensure our customers have the electricity they need when they need it. Reliability is at the core of all we do,” said OPPD President and CEO Javier Fernandez. “By continuing to add a variety of new generation sources to our energy portfolio, we’re helping to ensure our system can perform under a wide range of market conditions and weather scenarios.”
Burt County Solar will be located east of Tekamah, Neb. It is expected to generate more than $20 million in local tax revenue over its operational lifetime to support schools, infrastructure and other community priorities.
K-Junction Solar Project
Sandhills Energy is also joining forces with OPPD on another solar opportunity – taking ownership of the proposed K-Junction Solar in York County. The parties recently entered an agreement to transfer the project, aligning with commitments made to the community.
“This agreement provides OPPD a responsible path forward while allowing an experienced Nebraska developer to move ahead with the project,” said Joe Lang, director of OPPD’s Generation Strategy and Origination team.
OPPD pursued K-Junction Solar in 2023 after acquiring rights from EDF Renewables. At the time, the project held strong potential to connect up to 310 megawatts of solar and battery storage capacity to the grid, while generating $610 million in net economic development and $30 million in local tax revenue for the community.
“Even though OPPD is no longer directly developing this project, we look forward to a productive relationship with Sandhills Energy as their work progresses and will continue to support the project’s success,” Lang said.
OPPD's other recent solar projects include the 81-MW Platteview Solar facility in Saunders County, which came online in 2024, as well as the 420-MW Pierce County Energy Center, which is under development in partnership with NextEra Energy Resources and Google.
The Pierce County project is expected to begin operation in spring 2027.
