Omaha Public Power District is seeking proposals for the potential development of a landfill solar project, a joint effort with Douglas County, Neb.
The OPPD-Douglas County SOLUS (solar on landfills utility scale) initiative currently underway is examining how solar panels could be incorporated at the former Douglas County State Street Landfill near 126th & State Streets in Omaha. This landfill operated between 1973 and 1989, at which time it was capped to isolate waste.
Closed landfills have limited future uses, but SOLUS identifies a possible use that’s not only compatible with the property, but also provides additional power to communities at a time when electricity usage is growing. The 160-acre site under consideration has good sun exposure and is located near an existing OPPD substation, which makes it an ideal location for solar panels.
The SOLUS feasibility study will begin in December and conclude in June 2024. The study will help determine the project timeline if it comes to fruition. A $3.46 million grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) would help bridge the gap between the cost of a typical ground-mounted utility-scale solar project and landfill solar, which is more complicated to design and build.
The timeline for information requests and proposals from bidders is as follows:
- Questions from bidders due November 15, 2023 by 5 p.m. Central Time
- Email: RFP@OPPD.com
- OPPD responses to questions due November 17, 2023
- Bids to OPPD due November 30, 2023 by 5 p.m. Central Time
- Email: RFP@OPPD.com
- Contractor vendor workshop (if requested) December 4-8, 2023
- Tentative contract awarded December 15, 2023
The RFP listing can be found at OPPD.com. For more information on the landfill solar initiative, please visit OPPDCommunityConnect.com/SOLUS.