NPPD says Lincoln County construction on R project will continue despite injunction in permit area

Representatives of Nebraska Public Power District provided a construction update on the R transmission project, saying federal permitting had been issued in February but a June preliminary injunction limited certain soil‑disturbing work in the northern permit area. Paul Brun (MPPPD) told commissioners the injunction affected only the permit area (from Stapleton north into Holt County) and did not bar construction activities in Lincoln County; crews will proceed on access road improvements, matting for structure sites, foundation work at substation locations and initial drill‑pier installations at a site identified as "Gentleman Station."

Brun described stages of work: continued voluntary easement negotiations with landowners, access‑road improvements, assembly of lattice towers in on‑site fly yards and the arrival and installation of helical piles for lattice towers later in the summer.

During questions, Rusty Camp, identified as a Region 5 director, said the R line is intended in part to address seasonal shortages that force some irrigators to rely on rented generators, particularly in drought years: "So if we have another drought like 2012, the whole grid is at risk and that's the reason for the R1," Camp said. Commissioners pressed NPPD representatives on reliability, renewable integration and the effect of the injunction on where heavy work may occur. Brun and staff said surveying, staking and limited non‑soil‑disturbing activities were permitted in the injunction area, with heavy soil work paused there until the permit issue is resolved by the court.

NPPD introduced project staff who will be active in the county over the coming months and said they will keep communications open with landowners and county staff as work proceeds.