By Curtis Kayton, Chimney Rock Public Power District general manager

    I was at a conference recently where the speaker shared his observations of the energy transition we are told is happening. He contrasted the increasing demand for fossil fuels and electric reliability with the performance of renewable electric generation technologies. One technology aligns with the laws of physics, the other does not. He concluded that if we as industry professionals are going to be honest with ourselves and our ratepayers, we can say that in their current form, renewable energy sources will never be a meaningful share of the nation’s energy mix. Notice he kept the door open for improvement but was very honest and very accurately stating that “in their current form” renewables will never be meaningful.
    This honest truth was reinforced earlier this summer on June 6, 2023, when the power plant fleet supplying the Midwest had 60,000 megawatts of wind capacity available, but only 300 MWs were running. I’ll say that again: 60,000 were available and 300 were running. That is certainly not meaningful. This is not an isolated occurrence; it happens more than ever makes the news. Winter storm Uri in February 2021, and Elliot in December 2022 are only two examples of near grid failures that have occurred in the recent past. Why? Overzealous ambitions to transition from fossil-fueled generation sources to technologies that have been given the same level playing field to perform but haven’t.
    So how can you know if what you hear is honest? I’ll give you a place to start. Call your local public power district and talk to someone informed on the issue. Nebraska’s public power model is the only one in the nation where YOU, the public, own every inch of the high-voltage electric infrastructure. A fraction of the state’s population has the privilege to work in public power. The dedication of the governing boards and employees operate this public power system for the good of all Nebraskans. Our track record consistently delivers less than the nation’s average cost and often leads the nation in reliability.
    I say this to assure you that we know what we’re doing, and you can ask a question and expect honesty. We work for you; we have no reason to lie. We don’t want to transition to a new technology that will cost you more and make your service less reliable. You see us in the store, at ball games, at church, and in communities across Nebraska. You can trust your public power district for an honest answer.  
    You will know a generation technology is real when you see public power adopting it, not when forced by policy and law. Until then, we will keep an open mind but will not abandon what has made electricity affordable and reliable for so long. If something doesn’t work, we will tell you. If it does, we will also tell you that and more importantly why.   
    That is how honesty works in Nebraska’s public power industry.