(KLZA)--Omaha Public Power District- 13-county service territory is experiencing unprecedented growth in demand for energy, the result of a thriving regional economy. However, with such growth comes the need to power it.

During recent committee meetings the OPPD Board of Directors, utility leaders made a recommendation to meet the near-future generation needs of our communities. The need for additional generation was identified in resource planning work, which was guided by the district- mission of providing affordable, reliable and environmentally sensitive energy services. OPPD leaders have also publicly discussed the need for additional generation during opens sessions of the past several board meetings. In addition, a growth messaging campaign to keep our customers informed began April 1 and is ongoing.

OPPD expects peak energy load to the system will increase at a rate of approximately 100 megawatts (MW) per year for the foreseeable future. That- the equivalent of adding about 65 metro area high schools or mid-size hospitals - in just one year. To put the growth in context, OPPD was only adding 4 MW per year just a few years ago.

OPPD has been analyzing several resource options for this added generation, which will keep costs low and reliability high, while continue to reduce emissions over time as we diversify our resource mix even further. Generation solutions must be feasible to engineer, procure, construct and interconnect to the regional electric system in the time frame needed to reliably serve our customers. The utility remains committed to its goal of net-zero carbon by 2050.

Recommended proposals included adding:

· 1 ,000 to 1,500 MW of renewables including wind and solar.

·Up to 125 MW of battery storage

·600 to 950 MW of thermal power (such as natural gas

·32 MW or more of demand response which includes shifting or shedding electricity.

Approximately 320 MW of added fuel capacity and fuel oil storage at existing generation facilities - essentially upgrading current facilities to allow for additional winter capacity and resiliency.

Board members will consider the recommendation at an upcoming meeting.