Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District’s J-2 Hydroplant, (Brian Neben Central Nebraska Today)
HOLDREGE — The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (Central) and Lincoln Electric System (LES) have finalized a power purchase agreement for 20 megawatts of capacity and energy from Central’s Jeffrey Reservoir Hydroplant, located south of Brady.
The power agreement will go into effect on April 1, 2025, and run through the end of 2037. This coincides with the remainder of Central’s current Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing.
LES will use the power generated by Jeffrey Hydro to support its service area, which includes Lincoln and Waverly, Neb.
“We’re proud to partner with LES and help deliver on their goal of providing environmentally responsible, low-cost reliable electricity for their customers,” Central General Manager Devin Brundage said. “We look forward to helping LES serve its customers with Nebraska hydropower.”
“LES has a variety of generation resources in our portfolio that provide flexibility, adaptability and stability in an ever-changing energy landscape,” said LES manager of Resource and Transmission Planning Scott Benson. “This partnership with Central boosts our portfolio and contributes to the reliable and affordable power our customers expect. It also brings LES another step closer to achieving our decarbonization goal. We’re proud to partner with Central on this effort.”
Central generates electricity for homes, farms and industry at four hydroplants, one at Kingsley Dam and three on Central’s Supply Canal, including the Jeffrey Hydro. The hydro division diverts water released from Lake McConaughy into the Supply Canal, directs it through several lakes where it travels through hydroelectric plants and delivers the water to the irrigation system (during irrigation season) or back to the Platte River (non-irrigation season).
The diversion for Central’s Supply Canal is located 50 miles east of Central’s main storage reservoir, Lake McConaughy, and 75 miles west of Central’s irrigated area in Gosper, Phelps and Kearney Counties.
About LES
LES is a public power utility that provides electricity to homes, businesses and government properties in Lincoln, Nebraska and its surrounding areas. LES is Nebraska’s second-largest retail electric utility based on the number of customers served. With this power purchase agreement, LES’ nameplate resource portfolio—the full capacity of its generation fleet— is comprised of 35% renewable resources, 35% natural gas and 30% coal. Learn more about LES at LES.com.
About Central
Central is a political sub-division of the State of Nebraska with headquarters in Holdrege and its hydroelectric facilities are licensed by FERC. Central’s Kingsley Dam and Lake McCounaughy is the centerpiece of a project that provides many benefits critical to the people of Nebraska. Central delivers irrigation water to more than 108,000 acres between North Platte and Minden and stores water for 100,000 additional acres for other districts.
Recreation is another benefit of Central’s project as Nebraskans and visiting vacationers enjoy opportunities provided by Central lakes. The system of canals and laterals provide groundwater recharge that helps stabilize groundwater supplies for irrigation, municipal and industrial uses. The project also provides habitat for many species of fish and wildlife.
