Cass County Data Center

[Greg S]

I think this is the first major opposition in Nebraska to a proposed data center.

Cass County residents push back on proposed data center amid water, farmland concerns

https://www.wowt.com/2026/07/13/cass-co ... -concerns/

WEEPING WATER, Neb. (WOWT) - A coalition of Cass County residents, farmers, and local advocates is urging the county to pause development of a proposed data center, raising concerns about water use, utility impact, and effects on family farmers.

Energy company Tenaska has optioned more than 1,300 acres of Cass County farmland along Highway 75 for the project. The county’s planning commission met Monday to discuss how — or whether — to move forward with the development.

[Brad]

So is Tenaska now in the Data center business or is this data center actually for Tenaska?

[Linkin5]

Hopefully the opposition is successful, we’ve seen a lot of county and state politicians nationwide make decisions on data centers that were contrary to their constituents’ wishes. There needs to be state investigations for money trails related to these matters.

[almighty_tuna]

There needs to be state investigations for money trails related to these matters.

Yeahhhh, don't see that being effective in this state.

[Ben]

So is Tenaska now in the Data center business or is this data center actually for Tenaska?

I went to a presentation by Tenaska on this topic given that we have several family farms down in Otoe county, another target location for Tenaska.

Tenaska is in the power generation business. Given recent law changes (LB1261) there can now be local/private power generation for large power users. Which means Tenaska can be that local power source.

So, Tenaska is attempting to develop several "power ready" sites around the region. Not that they'll actually install turbines without specific users in mind, but they're optioning land and gathering a portfolio of locations to market to companies for various uses. Yes, one of the potential uses is data center, but there could be others such as industrial/manufacturing, etc.

There are a couple of benefits for the community that many don't realize. First off, the significant increase in taxable valuation - they're not asking for TIF or any tax breaks for these developments - creating huge influxes of tax dollars to the local schools and municipalities. Secondly, these power stations will likely be grid connected, and can potentially be utilized as "peakers" to sell power to OPPD/NPPD in times of high public need. Lastly job creation - the power plant itself, and then the industrial user it supports (data center or manufacturing site) will all create local jobs in places that have been losing residents in these rural communities as some of the younger generations turn away from working on the family farm.

[Brad]

Thanks Ben, that makes a lot of sense.

[Louie]

So Tenaska is also looking to build power plants as well? Sorry if I am misreading.

[Ben]

So Tenaska is also looking to build power plants as well? Sorry if I am misreading.

Tenaska would be the primary developer of any of these sites, and yes, would have combined cycle gas turbines onsite, to meet the power needs of whatever the industrial user would be.

One of the biggest challenges for data centers is getting access to that much power, and its effects on the residential/other business users and perceived "cost pass alongs" for new generation stations. Tenaska is trying to eliminate that challenge by co-locating sufficient additional generation capacity onsite, so these "big users" don't further drain the grid.

In reality, this setup further stabilizes the grid, as if Tenaska ends up building 2-3 of these, there will be 2-3 additional generation stations (with some level of excess capacity) that can be called upon in times of high demand without the additional CapEx of OPPD/NPPD having to build them.

[BRoss]

It makes sense for large data centers to start building dedicated power plants. Many areas are approaching capacity and having a hard time keeping up with demand.

Plus, I know when it comes with OPPD (and I'm sure most if not all other providers) that on really hot days, large industrial users are told they have to cut back usage, which causes them to have to cut back on operations.

Google's us-central1 region is made up of the two Council Bluffs, Omaha, Papillion, and soon to be Lincoln data centers. When our area has 100°+ days, it likely impacts all five of the DCs and they may have to take down some services in that region, which isn't ideal.