Overview

What is the R-Project?

NPPD is planning a new 345,000-volt transmission line that will start at Gerald Gentleman Station near Sutherland, connect to a substation near Thedford, and then continue east to a substation in Holt County.

This project — called the R-Project — is an important investment in Nebraska’s energy future. It will:

  • Improve reliability of the electric grid
  • Relieve congestion on existing transmission lines
  • Provide opportunities to connect any type of new generation, including renewables

This map shows the final line route for the project.

Final Transmission Line Route

SPP's Role

NPPD is a member of the Southwest Power Pool, a regional transmission organization that oversees reliability across several states. Each year, SPP studies the entire transmission network through its Integrated Transmission Plan. The R-Project was identified in SPP’s 2012 Integrated Transmission Plan 10-Year Assessment Report as a critical need — and it remains essential today. If NPPD doesn’t build the R-Project, SPP would look for another entity to do so.

Cost of Project

The total project cost estimate for the transmission line and substations is approximately $721.4 million.

Why Thedford

For the R-Project, adding facilities to an existing substation to meet transmission network reliability or customer electrical energy delivery needs is the most cost-effective solution. Additionally, the Thedford 115,000-volt substation is at the midpoint of the west leg of the 115,000-volt transmission network serving north-central Nebraska and is centrally located with respect to the termination points of the R-Project transmission line.

Need & Benefits

An essential project for Nebraska

The R-Project will:

Improve reliability of the electric grid

Relieve congestion on existing transmission lines

Provide opportunities to connect any type of new generation, including renewables