By Allison Peck
Construction on the Nebraska Public Power District's R-Project transmission line is officially underway in Lincoln County, even as portions of the project remain tied up in federal court.
NPPD officials provided Lincoln County Commissioners with a construction update Monday morning, outlining what residents can expect over the coming months as crews begin work on the 345-kilovolt transmission line.
Paul Brune of NPPD said the utility received its federal permit in February, but a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on June 8 affecting part of the project. The ruling temporarily removed protections under the project's incidental take permit related to the American burying beetle, preventing soil-disturbing construction activities within designated beetle habitat north of Stapleton.
Brune emphasized that the injunction did not stop the project altogether.
"There isn't burying beetle habitat here, so the permit is not in this area," Brune told commissioners. "That allowed us to begin construction here in Lincoln County and proceed up to the Stapleton area."
Construction activity is now ramping up across Lincoln County.
According to NPPD, crews are improving access roads, preparing work sites, installing matting at structure locations and beginning the first drilled pier foundations at Gentleman Station. Helical pile installation for lattice towers is expected to begin later this summer, while other crews continue assembling transmission towers, preparing reinforcing steel and surveying rights-of-way.
Commissioners also asked questions about how construction will occur in areas with limited road access.
Brune explained that where concrete trucks cannot easily reach tower locations, portions of the transmission structures will be flown into place by helicopter after foundations are installed. Areas with better road access, including portions along U.S. Highway 83, will primarily use conventional concrete pier foundations.
The discussion also turned to the purpose of the controversial transmission project.
Commissioner Joe Hewgley questioned whether the line was primarily intended to support renewable energy development, referencing recent discussions surrounding federal tax credits for wind and solar energy. Brune said he was not directly involved in NPPD's long-term strategic planning but noted the utility has established goals to reduce carbon emissions rather than operating under a federal mandate.
NPPD Board member Rusty Kemp then offered what he described as the primary reason behind the project.
"The main purpose for the R-Line is they don't have enough electricity to irrigate at Ainsworth," Kemp said. He added that NPPD currently spends millions of dollars each year renting large generators to provide additional electrical capacity during periods of high demand and warned another drought similar to 2012 could place significant strain on the electric grid.
Commissioners thanked NPPD officials for returning to provide an update and said the presentation helped clarify how construction will proceed while the legal challenge continues.
Construction is expected to continue throughout Lincoln County over the coming months while work in the federally protected permit area remains limited pending further court proceedings.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of NPPD board member Rusty Kemp. The article has been updated.