# Nebraska eyes new nuclear plants to meet rising power demand  
**Published:** 2026-05-29T10:00:00.000Z  
**Source:** [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/new-nuclear-power-may-be-coming-to-nebraska-it-shows-promise-and-has-problems/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/nebraska-eyes-new-nuclear-plants-to-meet-rising-power-demand

Nebraska Public Power District has narrowed its search for a new nuclear power plant to four communities, marking a significant shift in the state's energy future as utilities grapple with surging electricity demand.

NPPD announced this week that [Beatrice, Brownville, Norfolk and Sutherland are the finalists](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/new-nuclear-power-may-be-coming-to-nebraska-it-shows-promise-and-has-problems/) for a next-generation nuclear facility to potentially come online by the mid-2030s. The selection followed a comprehensive feasibility study funded by the Nebraska Legislature and evaluated 32 criteria ranging from health and safety to water availability.

The project represents an unusual moment in Nebraska energy politics. A decade ago, wind energy sparked fierce local opposition that led Gage County residents to push for stricter regulations. Today, nuclear power is generating optimism in many of the same communities, according to NPPD CEO Tom Kent. "Those communities are really interested in hosting and being a location for this kind of development," Kent said.

NPPD and three other regional utilities formed the [Great Plains New Nuclear Consortium](https://dwee.nebraska.gov/news-events/press-releases/nebraska-submits-information-us-doe-nuclear-lifecycle-innovation-campus-consideration) in December to pursue next-generation reactor technology. The consortium is exploring [bringing 1,000 to 2,000 megawatts of new nuclear power to Nebraska](https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-awards-94-million-american-companies-help-expedite-deployments-small), which currently operates only one nuclear plant at Brownville.

The push reflects growing national momentum for nuclear energy. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and major tech companies betting on nuclear power as a carbon-free solution for data centers have embraced the technology. NPPD has received $27 million in federal funding to pursue an early site permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The utilities are considering small modular reactors, or SMRs, which proponents say offer advantages over traditional plants. [SMRs are characterized by their smaller size, allowing for easier scalability and greater flexibility](https://www.usitc.gov/sites/default/files/publications/332/working_papers/smrs_fo_ma.pdf) compared to conventional reactors.

However, challenges remain. Industry experts note that while SMRs show promise in addressing nuclear power's historical weaknesses—high costs and long construction times—they remain largely unproven at commercial scale. [Only one SMR has been commercially connected to the U.S. grid](https://www.globsec.org/what-we-do/commentaries/faster-cheaper-smarter-promise-and-pitfalls-small-modular-reactors), and questions persist about waste management and safety despite industry claims of enhanced security features.

NPPD anticipates power demand could increase 600 to 3,000 megawatts "over the next several years," Kent said. For context, the city of Lincoln uses about 819 megawatts at summer peak. The utility is moving deliberately, avoiding being among the first to adopt new reactor designs to reduce financial risk.

Support in the four finalist communities appears strong, though some residents have raised questions about safety and water usage. NPPD says new reactor designs can limit water impacts. The next steps include submitting permit applications and selecting a reactor design, a process Kent said will take years to complete.

## Sources

- [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/new-nuclear-power-may-be-coming-to-nebraska-it-shows-promise-and-has-problems/)
- [Nebraska DWEE press release on Great Plains New Nuclear Consortium](https://dwee.nebraska.gov/news-events/press-releases/nebraska-submits-information-us-doe-nuclear-lifecycle-innovation-campus-consideration)
- [U.S. Department of Energy announcement on nuclear funding](https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-awards-94-million-american-companies-help-expedite-deployments-small)
- [USITC report on small modular reactors](https://www.usitc.gov/sites/default/files/publications/332/working_papers/smrs_fo_ma.pdf)
- [GLOBSEC analysis of SMR promise and pitfalls](https://www.globsec.org/what-we-do/commentaries/faster-cheaper-smarter-promise-and-pitfalls-small-modular-reactors)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Flatwater Free Press, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://flatwaterfreepress.org/new-nuclear-power-may-be-coming-to-nebraska-it-shows-promise-and-has-problems/.