![Gwen Kautz 2021 Dawson PPD General Manager Gwen Kautz](https://dawsonpower.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GwenK-work.jpg)
By Gwen Kautz, Dawson PPD General Manager
A couple weeks ago, Nebraska Public Power District announced that they would be conducting public information forums to gather opinions regarding the future of NPPD’s power generation mix.
In addition to the public forums, a survey will be available from August 11 – September 1. The online survey is available to anyone. Anyone includes people in the state of Nebraska as well as those who don’t live here. This is concerning that NPPD might let outside interests dictate what Nebraska does related to carbon reduction. At Dawson PPD we’ve never been against renewable energy, but it must make financial sense for our customers and for our state. Subsidies create a false impression of great savings when renewables are discussed.
We’ve been assured that the outside responses will be filtered out via technology, but we’re still concerned. Special interest groups will likely stack the deck in their favor. We are asking our customers to attend these public forums and to answer the survey.
Your opinion counts – even if you haven’t been studying the carbon issue. You experienced the rolling blackouts in February. This can and will happen again if we rely on wind or solar to be the larger option for energy in Nebraska. It is imperative that the energy production in Nebraska have several reliable, low-cost, unsubsidized sources which can be controlled and dispatched. We cannot control the wind or the sun.
Nebraska already has a diversified energy generation portfolio that is 65 percent carbon free. Our state has the 16th lowest energy rates in the nation. A mandate to increase renewable generation while calling for a reduction of coal used to generate power will change that drastically. Do not let that happen without your input. We are making natural steps to increase our renewable options, so the financial impact isn’t completely on the rate payer’s shoulders. Those steps are also designed to keep our power low cost and reliable.
We can all support a cleaner energy future, but let’s do so without setting unrealistic goals that are expensive to meet. Let us stay the current course so that your power continues to be reliable and affordable.
OTHER NEWS
Dawson Public Power District Sponsors Lexington Student for Leadership Camp
Dawson Public Power District is proud to announce its sponsorship of Rigo Arias, a Lexington High School student, to attend the 2024 Nebraska Rural Electric Association Youth Energy Leadership Camp.
Bump Up Pots offer foolproof flower power
Here, at Open Air Nursery, owned by husband-and-wife team Clark and Kelli Plihal, blooms a unique concept – the Bump Up Pot.
Going way, way up
What has 92 feet and is red all over? Dawson PPD’s newest digger derrick.
The latest addition to the District’s fleet boasts a reach of up to 92 feet, helping our lineworkers reach 70-foot-tall transmission poles with ease.