FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 19, 2025

OPPD Betrays North Omaha With Vote to Keep Burning Coal

Bold’s Terrell McKinney and Jane Kleeb attended the Dec. 18 OPPD Board meeting and delivered a petition with 2,500+ signature from OPPD customers

Omaha – In response to the Board of Omaha Public Power District’s approval of a resolution that will further delay the closure of its polluting North Omaha coal plant, Terrell McKinney, Land Justice Director at Bold Alliance, and Jane Kleeb, Founder and Executive Director of Bold, issued the following statement:

“The Board’s decision is highly disappointing and yet another example of why the North Omaha community has lost trust in its willingness to do right by our community. Despite this, we will continue to push for the transition of the plant and hold the OPPD board and staff accountable every step of the way,” said Terrell McKinney, Bold Land Justice Director.

“It is time for North Omaha to stop being the community that shoulders the pollution for data centers and other growth. Nebraska needs to build more energy, we all acknowledge this fact. Bold stands ready to organize with the community to keep the OPPD board accountable to the resolution they passed last night, and finally transition the coal plant and do right by the people who live in North Omaha,” said Jane Kleeb, Bold Founder and Executive Director.

Bold wants to acknowledge board members Eric Williams and Sara Howard, who voted against the resolution and have long advocated to transition the coal plant. We also acknowledge that members Craig Moody and Amanda Bogner share in the need for the coal plant to be converted.

Bold launched a campaign earlier this year to demand that OPPD keep its promise to the North Omaha community, and close the North Omaha coal plant by 2026.

A recent survey conducted by Bold found that North Omaha residents have deep concerns about unhealthy air, little to no progress on environmental problems, and being excluded from decisions on pollution and energy that shape their future. They’re dealing with asthma, allergies, 
and other health issues linked to pollution from the plant, and 93% of respondents to the survey said their neighborhood’s environmental health is staying the same or getting worse.

Community advocates have attended previous months’ OPPD Board meetings to speak out and deliver public comments asking the Board members to keep their promise. Bold also delivered a petition to the OPPD Board urging them to keep their promise and close the coal plant, which to date has gathered more than 2,500 signatures.

About Bold
Bold is a network of “small and mighty” groups in rural states working to protect land and water. We fight fossil fuel projects, protect landowners against eminent domain abuse, and work for clean energy solutions while building an engaged base of citizens who care about the land, water, and climate change. (https://boldnebraska.org)

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