wiredInUSA August 2017

Adding to the power mix

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) has announced that a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources will construct the 160MW Sholes Wind Energy Center in Wayne County, Nebraska. Construction is set to begin in March 2019, with operation scheduled to begin in the following December. OPPD will purchase 100 percent of the energy produced through a 20-year power purchase agreement.

renewable energy sources. The company plans to increase that to 51 percent by 2020. “It is a great time to buy wind; the prices are very competitive,” said Jon Hansen, vice president of energy production and marketing. Later this year, the company plans to announce another joint wind development with Facebook. Facebook is building a data center in Sarpy County, Nebraska, and plans to procure 100 percent renewable energy for the facility.

When finished, Sholes will allow OPPD to provide 40 percent of its power mix from

wiredInUSA - August 2017

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