Three new officials join OPPD board

Three new members joined the eight-member Omaha Public Power District board this week, inheriting a portfolio of high-stakes decisions that includes the future of a coal-burning facility and the selection of a new chief executive officer. The incoming officials, elected to represent specific subdivisions of the utility, must now navigate questions about rate stability, infrastructure aging, and the financial impact of data centers on local power consumption.

Carol Blood, a former Nebraska state senator who won the seat for subdivision 3, stated that her priorities for 2027 include maintaining board transparency, keeping rates flat, and regulating data center usage. She noted that the North Omaha community feels it has been misinformed regarding the plant's retirement timeline, which the board extended to 2028 at the end of the previous year. Blood said she intends to review the data and timeline to ensure the decision serves both the neighborhood and the ratepayers.

Sara Kohen, representing subdivision 1, and Jay Ignowski, representing subdivision 2, also secured their positions. Kohen emphasized that the North Omaha plant is older than the typical useful life of a coal facility. She argued that establishing a clear plan for aging infrastructure is necessary to prevent unexpected costs from falling on consumers.

The board must also fill the vacancy left by Javier Fernandez, who resigned last month. Blood said the new president and CEO must maintain a strong working relationship with the board and demonstrate transparency. Kohen added that the candidate should understand the specific mission of public power and possess the experience to execute the board's priorities.

Data centers have become a focal point of utility planning. Governor Jim Pillen told reporters in Fremont last month that the current infrastructure can handle the existing number of data centers. He stated that the administration's goal is to protect Nebraska ratepayers while the state continues to offer tax incentives to new businesses.

Blood expressed concern that data centers should not drive up rates or deplete resources, noting that while tax incentives welcome new business, they should not harm other aspects of the state economy. Kohen said voters have raised concerns about high power consumption from these facilities. She called for increased transparency so the public can understand how much power data centers use and who bears the cost.

A spokesperson for Governor Pillen said the administration expects electric affordability and reliability to be the board's only priority. The office stated that retiring existing generation and replacing it with new sources is more expensive and will increase costs for ratepayers. The governor's office also noted that state laws require OPPD to use available tools, such as behind-the-meter generation, to prevent out-of-control rate increases for homeowners.