Shell Creek Substation Energized; Phase I of ETR-Project Complete

With the energizing of Shell Creek Substation, Phase I of the ETR-Project is essentially complete.

Three main elements comprised Phase I: 1) Expansion of Hoskins Substation (and installation of a 345 kV transformer) near Norfolk; 2) Constructing of Shell Creek Substation (including installation of a 345 kV transformer) north of Columbus; and 3) Upgrading the operation of approximately 40 miles of existing high-voltage transmission line between Hoskins Substation and Shell Creek Substation from 230 kV to 345 kV.

Phase II of the ETR-Project calls for expansion of Columbus East Substation and construction of approximately 80 miles of 345 kV high-voltage transmission line between Shell Creek Substation and Lincoln Electric System's Northwest 68th and Holdrege Substation near Lincoln. Following a nearly year-long public involvement and line route selection process, Phase II is currently engaged in engineering, surveying and right-of-way acquisition activities. Actual construction of the new line is scheduled to begin in August.

Watch video of 170-ton transformer move from downtown Columbus railyards to the new Shell Creek Substation north of Columbus! Play Video >>

Project Overview:

In late 2006, Nebraska Public Power District announced intentions to begin a high-voltage transmission line project in the east-central portion of the state. The project is needed to meet growing demand for electric energy in the state and to ensure the continued reliability of the electric transmission and distribution grid.

NPPD’s Electric Transmission Reliability Project for East-Central Nebraska, as the transmission project is called, is slated to be completed in two phases. Phase I calls for substation work and conversion of a current 230 kV line between Norfolk and Columbus. Phase II will entail substation work and construction of a new line from Columbus to northwest Lincoln.

A transmission study completed by NPPD in May 2006 indicated the need for the ETR-Project. Record demand for electric power in the summers of 2005 and 2006 reinforced the need to upgrade the transmission grid in east-central Nebraska.

The final route for Phase II has been chosen. NPPD systematically sought public input to assist in determining where the new line would go. NPPD employees and the District’s representatives traveled the area to gather information to use, among other factors, to make assessments about the suitability of various corridors for the line.

After general corridors of the line had been identified, NPPD met with interested residents along those corridors. Those meetings helped evaluate potential challenges in possible routes for locating the line before a final route selection was made. A round of public hearings, as required by Nebraska statute, were conducted on November 13-15, 2007. A proposed final route was presented to the public at these meetings in Columbus, Schuyler, David City, Seward and Lincoln.

Phase II is scheduled for completion in June 2009.

The Nebraska Power Review Board Approves ETR Project 4-0:

The Nebraska Power Review Board conducted an evidentiary hearing Friday, September 28, on NPPD's application to construct the Electric Transmission Reliability Project for East-Central Nebraska. Vice President of Customer Services and Delivery Ed Wagner and Regulatory, Planning and Contracts Manager Paul Malone testified in support of the application, which was unopposed. The Power Review Board voted 4-0 to approve the application.

"Approval of the ETR-Project by the Nebraska Power Review Board is a significant milestone," Wagner said. "We have been fairly confident that the need for this important transmission asset has been evident from the project's beginning. Now, with the PRB's unanimous vote, we will proceed to determine the final line route and complete this important reliability project." Public hearings on the proposed final line route are scheduled for November.