NPPD restarts 226-mile transmission project, plans county work and helicopter lifts in 2027

Nebraska Public Power District representatives told the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners that construction on a long-delayed 226-mile transmission line will restart this year after the utility received a federal incidental-take permit in February. Paul Brun, speaking for the utility, said the project team plans to begin drilled-pier foundation work in late June in Lincoln County and expects to complete primary construction in about two years.

The project, Brun said, was authorized by the Southwest Power Pool in 2012 and moved through public outreach and permitting over several years. NPPD and its contractors kept a construction contract in place and began mobilizing material; the utility reported having about 82% of required easements in hand and said remaining access negotiations are ongoing.

Brun and contractor representatives described a mix of tower types and foundation methods. In areas with good road access, NPPD will use monopole tubular steel with deep concrete piers. In remote grassland and Sandhills areas where heavy equipment access is limited, crews will install helical piles and assemble lattice towers on smaller pads; the remaining sections will then be flown in by helicopter. Brun said helicopter erection of lattice towers is expected to begin in mid-2027, with conductor installation later that year.

Commissioners pressed the team on staffing and land-rights procedures. A Forbes Brothers Timberline representative said the company intends to hire locally for many roles — trucking, tower assembly and related labor — and estimated peak onsite employment of roughly 150–200 workers. On easement acquisition, the contractor said past projects had very low condemnation rates but acknowledged landowner opposition in some locations: "At some point to acquire the easement we'll have to go that next step is eminent domain," a contractor said, adding that condemnation historically has been rare but possible.

County officials raised concerns about safety, communication and coordination with the sheriff’s office when crews work on private property: Brun said the contractor will provide a one- to three-week look-ahead schedule to local road crews and will coordinate with the county sheriff if land-rights issues escalate.

Brun also described environmental mitigation and restoration work. The team said it worked with university and agency partners to design grassland restoration plans intended to limit traffic and surface disturbance, and pointed to examples of previous restoration on other projects where seeded areas recovered when moisture was available.

Next steps: the utility plans to continue easement negotiations, complete remaining access acquisition and begin major construction mobilization later this spring. NPPD encouraged landowners with concerns to use the contact numbers provided by the utility and to coordinate with the county highway superintendent on road use and traffic impacts.