Ainsworth Wind-Bassett

NPPD plans to build approximately 25 miles of 115kV transmission line to accommodate current and projected future loads and provide additional reliability and enhanced resiliency in the North Central Nebraska area. The project is now in Phase 2 of the routing and public involvement process.

Purpose and Need

• Provides enhanced reliability and resiliency for NPPD customers.
• Provides for a new transmission path in the North Central Nebraska area to serve the future projected load levels in the area.
• Addresses local area contingency events to support voltage levels from Ainsworth – Bassett – O’Neill.
• Meets the projected reliability needs identified in the Southwest Power Pool Integrated Transmission Plan.
• Ainsworth Wind-Bassett 115 kV project is the most effective transmission alternative to meet the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards in this area.

Routing & Public Involvement Process

NPPD uses a thorough and comprehensive public involvement process when siting new transmission lines. Routing a line requires balancing a variety of factors – from proximity to home, towns, and community amenities to land use, environmental concerns, and construction challenges. When planning new transmission lines, we must consider the most suitable location for the line to be built. While the shortest, most direct path might seem best, that is not always the case. Public input plays a key role in this process.

Routes for a transmission project are typically developed over the course of multiple phases and are then narrowed down to a final route.

• In the first phase, a preliminary study area was presented to the public in March 2026. With input from landowners, and consideration of engineering, environmental, and cost constraints, preferred and alternate routes were identified.
• A second open house will be held July 22, 2026, to present the preferred and alternative line routes and gather additional information from landowners and stakeholders. Information gathered throughout the process will be used to determine a proposed route.
• Once a proposed route is determined, NPPD will invite landowners along the proposed route to attend a public hearing. A final line route will be announced no earlier than thirty days after the public hearing, at which time, the land acquisition process and final design work will begin.