OPPD extends coal burning at the North Omaha Station

An ad hoc group was formed to address health and environmental justice issues related to the continuation of the burning of coal at the North Omaha Station

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News in 2026

Citing study, OPPD said its Omaha coal plant poses no ‘significant’ health threat. That’s misleading, experts say, by Anila Yoganathan, Flatwater Free Press, January 29, 2026.

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Please note the three points in the 2025 letter below from the Director of the Douglas County Health Department. Also note the resolution that was passed by the OPPD Board at their December meeting.

December 14, 2025

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) Board of Directors 

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) CEO Javier Hernandez

1919 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, NE 68106

SUBJECT: Official Opposition to Continuing Coal Burning Unit Operations and Request for Increased Health/Air Quality Monitoring in North Omaha

Dear Members of the Board and Mr. Hernandez,

As the Director of the Douglas County Health Department, I am writing to express opposition to the continued operation of coal burning units within the Omaha Public Power District’s service area. This opposition is rooted in our department’s primary mandate to protect and promote the health, safety, and well-being of all residents of Douglas County, particularly those most vulnerable to environmental health risks.

Continuing the operation of coal-fired generation represents a clear detrimental impact to human health, exacerbates existing health inequities, and imposes an unacceptable burden on specific communities, most notably North Omaha. While the recently published ESRI report assessing the human health risks did consider modeled estimates of exposures and health impact, it did so in a vacuum. The assessment did not take into consideration cumulative health risks of coal burning along with other existing pollution generators nearby, such as Eppley Airfield and several high-volume roads and highways. It also did not consider the levels of existing health conditions in the North Omaha community that may be worsened even with pollution limits that appear to be within EPA guidelines. Given this, along with the expert testimony presented by public health experts from well-respected public health institutions as was heard at Creighton’s public event on December 9^th, I strongly recommend discontinuing the use of the remaining coal burning units at the North Omaha Station in favor of cleaner, more efficient methods.

Impacts on Human Health

The health impacts of continued coal combustion are undeniable and well-documented by public health authorities nationwide. Emissions from coal units—including fine particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and heavy metals like mercury—are recognized public health hazards.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) penetrates deep into the lungs and enters the bloodstream, triggering severe cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that mortality risk associated with coal may be doublethe risk from other sources, due to the unique toxicity profile of coal emissions Northeast Omaha suffers 25% higher rates of COPD than the combined metro area².

The proximity of industrial sources, including the North Omaha Station, places a higher, unjust environmental load on residents who already face systemic barriers to healthcare access and quality nutrition. 41.2% of Northeast Omaha residents surveyed reported food insecurity, versus only 27.8% of the combined metro area².

For a community with statistically higher rates of chronic respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular disease, as is the case in North Omaha, even low-level chronic exposure to coal pollution poses an unacceptable amplification of existing health risks. The cumulative impact of industrial pollution combined with socioeconomic stress creates a 'double jeopardy' for residents. I request that the board of OPPD consider cleaner, safer, and more economical power choices that do not worsen the disparities in health and wellbeing experienced by the North Omaha community. 

Request for Partnership

Should the OPPD Board vote to continue running coal burning units, I request a partnership between OPPD and the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) to ensure public accountability and health protection:

1. Increase Capacity for Hyper-Local Monitoring: OPPD should fund additional state-of-the-art air quality monitoring stations and air quality monitoring personnel within the North Omaha community. DCHD offers to site and monitor sensors with the addition of one Air Quality Specialist. This hyper-local data is essential to accurately characterize the true level of community exposure, which is often missed by regional monitors.
2. Ensure Public Data Transparency: In partnership with OPPD, DCHD offers to establish a transparent mechanism for the immediate, real-time public publication of all collected air quality data from sensors placed in the vicinity of the North Omaha Station. This data will be easily accessible and understandable by the community and will be linked to health outcome surveillance data managed by DCHD.
3. Fund Health Mitigation and Capacity: I also recommend that OPPD establish an ongoing, dedicated fund, administered by DCHD, to address the respiratory and cardiovascular health impacts caused by the facility's emissions in the surrounding North Omaha area. This fund will support DCHD's capacity for enhanced disease surveillance, screening, and targeted health intervention programs.

The decision before the OPPD Board is a public health decision, and efficient energy options are available that can balance the energy needs of the community with the health of the surrounding neighborhoods. I urge you to adopt a proactive, health-protective stance by voting to discontinue the operation of coal burning units and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources. 

DCHD anticipates your favorable consideration of this urgent public health matter and looks forward to your response outlining your plan of action. I am available for any questions or discussions you wish to have.

[1]. The Omaha Metro’s 2024 Community Health Assessment reveals that Northeast Omaha carries 26% higher rates of heart disease and 37% higher rates of asthma than the combined metro area[2]. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) reports, Omaha ranks 9^th in the top 10 most challenging places to live for people with asthma, a burden that is disproportionately carried by communities of color and low-income populations[3].

Emissions contribute directly to the onset and aggravation of chronic conditions such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), bronchitis, and lung cancer. Research published in the European Respiratory Journal confirms a strong association between exposure to air pollution from coal plants and decreased lung function in both children and adults[4]. 

Sincerely,

Lindsay Huse, MPH, DNP

Director, Douglas County Health Department

1111 S. 41^st Street

Omaha, NE. 68105

Lindsay.huse@douglascounty-ne.gov

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Past News Coverage

North Omaha senator calls for transparency after steam tube failure at power station, KMTV News, by Melissa Wright, Jan. 7, 2026

Update on North Omaha Station, OPPD Director Craig Moody's blog, Dec. 23, 2025

OPPD again delays plan to stop burning coal at North Omaha plant, Nebraska Public Media, by Jessica Wade, Dec. 18, 2025

Dueling sides tout own 'reliability' arguments as vote nears on delaying North Omaha coal phaseout, KETV News, by Aaron Hegarty, Dec. 16, 2025

Residents question new OPPD power station health risk assessment, KMTV News, by Melissa Wright, Dec. 2, 2025

OPPD Proposes Extending Life of Dangerous Coal Plant, Sierra Club press release, Nov. 21, 2025

'Do what's right': Residents urge OPPD to keep promise, end coal burning at North Omaha plant, Omaha World-Herald, by Julie Anderson, Nov. 21, 2025.

OPPD board delays decision on North Omaha power plant to December, WOWT News, Zach Pfeifer, Nov. 18, 2025

OPPD delays vote on North Omaha power plant transition from coal to natural gas, by Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner, Oct. 29, 2025.

OPPD Board delay vote as lawsuit clouds North Omaha Coal Plant transition, KMTV 3 News Now, October 16

Google collaborates with United Way of the Midlands and OPPD (scroll down to see the article), Omaha World Herald, Spet. 28, 2025

Residents urge OPPD to stop burning coal at North Omaha plant, Omaha World-Herald, August 23, 2025, by Julie Anderson

Community pushes OPPD to stay on track with coal plant closure, KMTV News Now, August 21, 2025, by Melissa Wright

The A.I. Power Grab, The New York Times, by David Gelles, Oct. 22, 2024

Power Grab - A utility promised to stop burning coal then Google and Meta came to town -An energy crunch forces continued coal burning in a low-income area as data centers strain the regional power supply, The Washington Post, by Evan Halper, Oct.12, 2024

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As the saying goes: "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."

Cornell West calls out OPPD for not shutting down the North Omaha Coal Plant

Follow Nebraska Beyond Coal on Facebook

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Climate Justice in Omaha: A project of Creighton's 2023 Sociology420 Environment and Society Students and Sierra Club

US banks are sacrificing poor communities to the climate crisis, by Ben Jealous, Executive Director of the Sierra Club and Bill McKibben, noted environmental writer and founder of Third Act.  The Guardian, March 16, 2023

YouTube video of March 23, 2023 presentation about Finding Solutions given by the North Omaha ad hoc group members Preston Love, Jr. and David Corbin

Nebraska Asthma Coalition Statistics

Inflation Reduction Act for Nebraska (IRA): Cleaner Air: The Inflation Reduction Act will offer environmental justice block grants, investments for cleaner buses and trucks, and a Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator that will prioritize emissions-reducing projects in disadvantaged communities.

Click this link to see a sample letter to Governor Pillen to urge him to request the IRA funding.

Inflation Reduction Act and urban trees: By allocating $1.5 billion for the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, this monumental bill, now the law of the land, will help bring cooling and pollution-fighting urban tree cover to all corners of the country, maximizing the multifold benefits of trees in combating climate change.

This is a partial list of national health and medical organizations that support the Inflation Reduction Act: American Lung Association, American Public Health Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and National Medical Association

Omaha Heat Campaign Report, UNMC

February 9,  2023 media coverage of the North Omaha ad hoc group :

WOWT - New at 4:00
North Omaha OPPD plant’s continued use of coal concerning neighbors
Two of the five units at the plant in question still operate on coal.
By John Chapman


WOWT - Live at 6:30 
North Omaha OPPD plant’s continued use of coal concerning neighbors
Two of the five units at the plant in question still operate on coal.
By John Chapman


KETV 7 News Updated: 6:06 PM CST 
North Omaha leaders discuss next steps with OPPD on coal burning
Members of a 50-person community committee for North Omaha say their goal is singular: stop the burning
by Josh Kristianto, Multimedia Journalist


KMTV 3 News Now - Posted at 7:27 PM
North Omaha group meets with OPPD leadership on coal use at power plant
By: Aaron Hegarty


KPTM Fox 42 News at 9:00 PM - The lead story!
North Omaha leaders give update on OPPD meeting about coal burning at North O plant
by Rose Todd

Citizen group says dialogue is now 'open' with OPPD over North Omaha coal plant, Omaha World-Herald, by Nancy Gaarder, published online, Feb. 9

Please consider writing to OPPD directors and CEO using this link.

Ask them to access federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) and Environmental Protection Agency grants

More Than 175 Groups Urge Equitable Oversight of Inflation Reduction Act Funds 
https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2023/02/more-175-groups-urge-equitable-oversight-inflation-reduction-act-funds

- Statement on Importance of Federal Oversight of Inflation Reduction Act’s Labor, Equity, and Environmental Goals  
https://cepr.net/inflation-reduction-act-oversight/

- Really smart piece from @350's @moredower and Daniel Hunter on how activists need to work the IRA climate bill to spread the money where it should go https://t.co/6IWhWQrbow
https://twitter.com/billmckibben/status/1628921066364993536

Conversation with Cheryl -David Corbin and Graham Jordison discuss when is an IRA not an Individual Retirement Account and how approximately $91 million dollars could help Nebraskans save money through Clean Energy, Reduce Harmful Pollution and Create Good Paying jobs.

OPPD Board of Directors' meeting video where the vote was made to continue burning coal at units 4 & 5 at the North Omaha Station until 2026 instead of the planned 2023 date (discussion on this topic begins at 27:51)

The text of OPPD's resolution 6518

OPPD board approves North Omaha Station extension, The Wire (Energy News from OPPD), August 18, 2022

OPPD Board Approves Recommendation To Delay Retirement, Conversion Of Plant Units, American Public Power Association, August 23, 2022

Link to a video from 2014 about the initial campaign to stop burning coal at the North Omaha Station.

Get Off Coal music video performed by Omahans David Corbin with lyrics by John Pollack

Love Your History: The OPPD Fire and Coal Plant with Preston Love, Jr. YouTube video.

OPPD board votes to delay sunsetting of North Omaha coal units, KETV news, August 18, 2022

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Coal will burn three years longer at OPPD’s North Omaha Station, WOWT News, August 18, 2022.

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Despite health concerns OPPD delays coal plant's shutdown, News Channel Nebraska, August 18, 2022

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Locals unhappy about OPPD's decision to delay station's switch to natural gas, KPTM news, August 19, 2022

The letter above  appeared in The Public Pulse, Omaha World-Herald, August 24, 2022

OPPD board votes to continue coal use at North Omaha plant — for now, Omaha World-Herald, August 18, 2022.

Nebraska coal-fired power plant latest to delay closure, Reuters, August 19, 2022

OPPD Slows Coal Conversion, News Radio 1040, August 19, 2022

Before the Board Vote

OPPD Recommends Delaying Transition of North Omaha Station (OPPD media release)

OPPD All Committee meeting video, August 16, 2022 (the discussion of the extension of the use of the coal plant begins at 2:07:55.

Amidst rising heat, are redlined neighborhoods hotter than the rest? by Addie Costello, Flatwater Press, July 8, 2022. (This article has a segment about OPPD's proposal).

OPPD proposes burning coal at North Omaha plant for three more years, WOWT news, June 24, 2022. (Nebraska Sierra Club)

North Omaha Station Could Be Burning Coal Until 2026 Instead of Stopping in 2023, NOISE, July 21, 2022, by Kietry Zychal

North Omaha Could Burn Coal Until 2026, NOISE, by Kietryn Zychal (interview with OPPD Director Eric Williams) pdf version

Midlands Voices: It is 'imperative' OPPD decarbonizes day-to-day energy usage, by Alison Freifeld, Katherine Finnegan, Jennifer Glazer and Sandy Lehr, Omaha World-Herald, July 28, 2022.

Why Omaha Public Power District's coal plant closure has been delayed, KETV News, by Joey Safchik, August 9, 2022

Sierra Club: OPPD delay ripe with health problems, News Channel Nebraska, by Joe Jordan, August 9, 2022

U.S. coal plants delay closures in hurdle for clean energy transition, Reuters, by Timothy Gardner, August 10, 2022

Coal Plants Are Being Kept Online To Prevent Blackouts As Green Transition Falters, Daily Caller, by Jack McEvoy, August 10, 2022

In a twist, OPPD could keep burning coal as renewable projects undergo study, Nebraska Public Media, by Kavahn Mansouri, August 11, 2011

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Click here to see a video that summarizes the campaign in 2014 when OPPD converted North Omaha Station's units 1,2 & 3 from coal to natural gas.

Sierra Club's Beyond Coal call to action: Click here.

Click this link to view various segments of OPPD Director Eric Williams' Town Hall meeting on Facebook

Below are links to media coverage of OPPD Director Eric Williams' Town Hall meeting on July 24, 2022

Public meeting for north Omaha power plant plans, July 24, 2022, WOWT news, by Ron Johnson.

Community shares opinions on possible coal-burning extension at OPPD plant in North Omaha, July 24, 2022, WOWT news, by Marlo Lundak.

North Omaha residents ask questions, voice concerns over OPPD, KMTV news, July 24, 2022

Click here to see OPPD Director Craig Moody's virtual Town Hall meeting, August 2, 2022.