Tobias-Daykin-Kansas

NPPD plans to build approximately 46 miles of a 345 kilovolt (345kV) transmission line between the Tobias Substation and the Kansas border to enhance reliability and resiliency for customers by increasing regional transfer capability between Nebraska and Kansas. The new line will originate at NPPD’s existing Tobias Substation located northeast of Tobias, extend south to a proposed substation site located near Daykin, Nebraska, and continue west and south to the Kansas border where it will link, at a location yet to be determined, to a similar 345kV line to be constructed from the Elm Creek substation in north-central Kansas to the Kansas/Nebraska border. The Kansas portion of the line will be routed and constructed by ITC Great Plains.

Purpose and Need

• Provides enhanced reliability and resiliency for NPPD customers
• Increases the regional transfer capability between Nebraska and Kansas to accommodate access to external generation during extreme weather
• Reduces congestion to ensure reliable delivery of generation during peak stress weather events
• Strengthens the Southwest Power Pool’s ability to withstand and recover from high-impact weather events
• Reduces exposure to future load shed events due to low voltages and limited access to generation resources

Routing & Public Involvement Process

NPPD is in the process of identifying the route for this proposed line. The September open houses will be the first of three sets of meetings in the public involvement process. At the open houses, NPPD will gather information from landowners and stakeholders within the study area.

NPPD uses a thorough and comprehensive public involvement process when siting new transmission lines. Routing a line requires balancing a variety of factors – from proximity to residences, towns, and community amenities to land use, environmental concerns, and construction challenges. When planning new transmission lines, we must consider the most suitable location for the line to be built. While the shortest, most direct path might seem best, that is not always the case. Public input plays a key role in this process.

Routes for a transmission project are typically developed over the course of multiple phases and are then narrowed down to a final route.

• In the first phase, a preliminary study area will be presented to the public. With information shared from landowners, and consideration of engineering, environmental, and cost constraints, preferred and alternate routes are identified.
• A second round of open houses will be held to present the preferred and alternative line routes and gather additional information from landowners and stakeholders. Information gathered throughout the process will be used to determine a proposed route.
• Once a proposed route is determined, NPPD will invite landowners along the proposed route to attend public hearings. A final line route will be announced no earlier than 30 days after the public hearings, at which time, the land acquisition process and final design work will begin.