OPPD says acquisition of former EDF "K Junction" solar project could bring hundreds of megawatts and tax revenue to York County
Loading...
Summary
Brad Underwood of Omaha Public Power District told the York County board Aug. 8 that OPPD acquired land leases and interconnection rights for the former EDF K Junction Solar project — an early‑stage, roughly 300–310 MW, ~2,800‑acre proposal — and pledged community engagement while addressing concerns about eminent domain and tax impacts.
Brad Underwood, vice president of systems transformation for the Omaha Public Power District, told the York County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 8 that OPPD has bought the land leases and the right to interconnect EDF’s former K Junction Solar project and is beginning technical and community work.
Underwood told the board the site encompasses roughly 2,800 acres and that initial engineering estimates put generation in the 300–310 megawatt range. He said OPPD is conducting parallel technical due diligence and community engagement: "We bought it," Underwood said, adding that the utility wanted to be transparent and take questions from local residents.
Why it matters: Underwood said the acquisition gives OPPD an option to deliver additional renewable resources as demand grows and that the project can produce construction jobs and ongoing tax revenue for local governments and schools. He provided county officials an engineering and revenue estimate and said the project is in its infancy; he urged a methodical approach to planning and zoning.
Board members and residents pressed OPPD on tax and landowner issues. Underwood said the purchase was of voluntary leases and that OPPD does not anticipate changing who provides retail service in the area: "There’s no change to anybody’s service," he said, and he emphasized coordination with existing public‑power entities. On eminent domain he said most land acquisitions are negotiated: "Approximately 97% of the time… we don’t use eminent domain," he said, and added the company expects willing landowners to remain central to the project.
On revenue, Underwood gave preliminary figures the district has used in outreach—describing annual and long‑term property tax estimates tied to the proposed project lifespan—and said Saunders County has seen construction investment and tax receipts when projects advanced with local agreement. He framed those numbers as a projection rather than a guarantee and said the county would be engaged as zoning and setbacks are worked through.
Residents and some commissioners urged OPPD to make a local informational meeting available so nearby landowners could ask questions directly. The chair said a separate, community‑facing session would be useful to address turnover and rumors that surface between formal meetings.
Next steps: OPPD said it will continue technical work and community outreach and offered to be available to the county as zoning discussions proceed.
