NPPD takes aim at net-zero carbon goal

One of the state’s largest power producers is aiming to ‘go green.’

Thursday, December 23rd 2021, 7:20 AM CST

By KSNB Local 4

COLUMBUS, Neb. (KSNB) - One of the state’s largest power producers is aiming to ‘go green.’ The Nebraska Public Power District officials held a press briefing Wednesday to inform people on their newest plans.

The power company board of directors recently approved their goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050.

After years of discussing decarbonization with their customers and external consultants to get feedback, they made the decision to go through with the transition.

The goal was approved by their board of directors in a 9-2 vote. NPPD president and CEO Tom Kent said this wasn’t going to be a simple change for the company.

“This is going to be a process over time that we progress and take advantage of new technologies as they come along or take advantage of improvements of existing technologies,” Kent said.

He continued to say they were serving their customers using 64% carbon-free energy resources, but they still had a number of years to go to reach that net-zero goa. Kent said they were keeping their customers’ wallets in mind while they moved to greener alternatives.