Dimension News, Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) has achieved a significant milestone in its Cass to Sarpy transmission project. Workers recently completed the crossing of approximately half a mile of transmission lines over the Platte River in Louisville. The new 23-mile, 345-kilovolt transmission line will connect OPPD’s Cass County substation to the newly built Turtle Creek substation, aiming to enhance the reliability and resilience of the regional power grid.
The new towers used in this crossing are the largest transmission facilities within OPPD’s service area, standing 347 feet tall with a span of approximately 2,500 feet between towers, far exceeding the typical span of about 850 feet. Their height and strength are specially designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 150 to 175 miles per hour, enhancing the grid’s ability to cope with extreme weather.
During construction, workers used helicopters to install and suspend the lines across the river. The tower can simultaneously support 345-kilovolt high-voltage lines, 69-kilovolt lines, and a lower-voltage distribution line. OPPD’s Chief Transmission Engineer Mohammed Amrollahi stated, “After years of planning and preparation, I am pleased to see this project come to fruition.”
This transmission project is part of OPPD’s long-term planning to address growing electricity demand within its service area and ensure long-term supply reliability. Dannie Buelt, Senior Director of OPPD’s Major Projects Division, noted that the company’s current infrastructure construction scale is at a historic high, and the supply chain market also faces certain complexities. The Cass to Sarpy project is part of OPPD’s plan to build approximately 400 miles of new transmission lines over the next decade.