Series finale: North Omaha Station, climate change and affordability [Video]

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Life for hundreds of thousands of us intersects with Omaha Public Power District. So, its decisions and direction are important.

3 News Now’s Mary Nelson wanted to speak in-depth with President and CEO Javier Fernandez on the heels of such an extraordinary storm season, and, at a time of never-before-seen growth for the Omaha area.

This story is the final in our series – focused on delays at the North Omaha Station, the utility’s net-zero carbon production goal and ensuring affordability.

Continue reading for the expanded story.

OPPD had initially planed to retire three of its units at the North Omaha Station, and convert two others from coal to natural gas, by the end of last year.

What’s the hold-up?

“It had nothing to do with the North Omaha Station itself. It had to do with Turtle Creek Station and Standing Bear Lake Station,” Javier Fernandez, OPPD President and CEO, explained.

Those sites – in Sarpy County and …