Omaha Public Power District is getting assistance to boost the share of its wind electricity from social media giant, Facebook.
The utility had already doubled its wind-generating capacity in January. It will add even more wind to meet Facebook’s stated intention of powering its planned Sarpy County data center with 100 percent renewable energy.
In January, the utility’s board approved a new rate structure, allowing large electricity users, such as Facebook, to fulfill its energy demand completely with renewable generation. Omaha Public Power District president and chief executive Tim Burke says discussions with Facebook on how to draw large, environmentally minded electric customers to Omaha began in 2013.
Landing large industrial users could help spread out fixed costs, like power lines, in the utility’s service territory.
