(KLZA)-- Following an executive session last week, the Falls City Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution, authorizing actions related to the Energy Forward: Falls City Transmission Improvement Project.

Falls City is limited on how much extra power would currently be available to the community form OPPD. City Administrator Anthony Nussbaum reviewed some history on attempts to obtain additional electrical power which began in 2009 with seeking an additional supply line from OPPD and a multi-million investment in a second coal fired power plant owned by OPPD at Nebraska City.

Nussbaum said the current situation strangles the city as far as potential growth. With only 1-2 megawatts of additional power available, it limits potential growth and economic development.

The passage of the resolution will free up the community to seek how and where power can be purchased for future needs. The change will make purchasing power easier and allow the city to purchase power from various suppliers and get better rates.

Falls City now has access to $15 million from the State of Nebraska to help pay for bringing more power to the community, not to make improvements to the local distribution system. Falls City EDGE Executive Director Lucas Froeschl says the money is for additional power and will greatly aid future economic development in the area.

The commitment from Citroniq to build a biochemical facility to create plastic components from ethanol will help pay for the secondary line and other electrical improvements through their purchase of electricity from the City.