Nebraska Public Power District President and CEO Tom Kent Discusses How Permitting Delays Have Real Consequences to Reliability and Affordability

May 7, 2026
Permitting Reform
Reliability
Grid Modernization
Videos

In 2012, an Integrated Transmission Plan from Southwest Power Pool recommended that Nebraska Public Power District build a 226-mile, 345 kV transmission line to connect part of central Nebraska to the rest of the Eastern Interconnection.

After years of environmental reviews, revised routes, vacated permits, and court appeals, NPPD began construction this year.

In the second installment of LPPC’s Permitting Reform video series, CEO and President Tom Kent explains why the R-Line project has become a clear example of how permitting delays affect electric reliability, affordability, and the customers public power utilities serve.

‍

Previous
Next
Nebraska Public Power District President and CEO Tom Kent Discusses How Permitting Delays Have Real Consequences to Reliability and Affordability
LPPC's Priorities on FEMA Reform
Public Power, Disaster Recovery, and FEMA
LPPC Names Sarah Vilms Senior Director of Policy and External Affairs
Tom Talk Episode 3: U.S. Department of the Treasury's Private Use Rules: The Problem Explained
LPPC President Tom Falcone Testifies Before House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy
Santee Cooper President and CEO Jimmy Staton Discusses Permitting Reform
LPPC Releases New Report | Priorities for Permitting Reform: Supporting Electric Reliability, Affordability, and Growth
Bring FEMA Act to the Floor: Nearly Half of House Representative Signatures on Bipartisan Letter to Leadership Represent LPPC Member Districts
LPPC Signs on to Letter to U.S. Senate Urging Permitting Reform Legislation
The Grid Nobody Planned For: Public Power, Hyperscalers and the Race to Rewire America for the AI Age
LPPC Winter CEO Meeting
Public Power is Powering the Future of America’s Economy: LPPC Publishes NEW Private Business Use Report
As AI Booms, Data Centers May Create Electricity Scarcity Among Users
Energy Evolution Podcast: The race to rebuild the US power grid in the age of AI
Public Power's Response to Increased Energy Demand
To Maintain Energy Security and Win the AI Race, Federal Policy Must Take Proactive Steps to Unleash Public Power
How Increased Energy Demand Could Affect American Families
‘Phantom’ data centres muddy forecasts for US power needs
America's Future Growth Depends on Building New Energy Infrastructure Today
LPPC President Highlights Public Power’s Role in Meeting AI-Driven Energy Demand
LPPC President Joins USEA for Virtual Press Briefing on AI in the Electric Utility Space
The Bond Buyer Podcast: Surging energy demand, federal headwinds, and the $140B public power buildout
The POWER Podcast: Advocating for Public Power Companies
Public Power Leaders Discuss Surging Load, Reliability, Affordability, and Sustainability with Investors and the Financial Community
US public power sector weighs risks and rewards of data center customers
Large Public Power Utility CEOs Convene in New York to Tackle Surging Electricity Demand
Data Centers That Don’t Exist Yet Are Already Haunting the Grid
Meeting AI Power Demand Means More Renewables, Grid Officials Say
RTO Insider Covers LPPC at USEA Virtual Press Briefing
The Outdated Tax Rule Holding Back Big Infrastructure
LPPC Supports Bipartisan FEMA Reform Bill to Strengthen Disaster Recovery
LPPC Thanks White House & Congress for Supporting Public Power Communities
Triple Digit Temperatures are Coming, and Public Power is Ready
LPPC Calls for FEMA Reform While Emphasizing Need for Continued Federal Grants
Industry Groups Back FEMA as ‘Essential’ Disaster Agency
LPPC Member CEOs Head to Capitol Hill
The Hidden Costs of Eliminating Energy Tax Credits
Public Utilities Would Feel Pain if Muni Tax Exemption Goes
LPPC Op-ed: Growing Demand for Electricity Requires New Policy Solutions
LPPC Welcomes EPA’s Decision To Reconsider The Power Plant CO2 Rule
Forbes Covers LPPC at USEA Press Briefing
Bill restoring tax-exempt advance refunding introduced in House
Gov. Hochul looks to advance nuclear power as wind energy faces headwinds
What is and isn’t in Trump’s National Energy Emergency Order
Policy Outlook for 2025: Everything Leads Back to Demand
Is Public Power a Better Model for Meeting Data Center Demand?
LPPC’s Post-Election Forum Convenes Policymakers and Public Power Leaders to Address Rapidly Growing Demand for Electricity
LPPC President-Elect: Treasury’s New Elective Pay Guidance a “Significant Step Forward” for Public Power Customers
Rising Electric Demand Calls for Solutions
LPPC Ready to Partner with President and Congress to Power Growth
The State of Public Power Advocacy: John Di Stasio & Tom Falcone Share Their Insights
President’s Post: The Connection Between Federal Energy Policy & Clean Energy
Large Public Power Council Announces Tom Falcone as President-Elect
LPPC Grows Membership with the Addition of Lincoln Electric System
LPPC Announces Jackie Flowers and Javier Fernandez as New Chair and Vice Chair
LPPC Responds to FERC’s Final Transmission Planning Rule
LPPC Issues Statement on EPA's Final Power Plant Rule
Public Power Leaders Attend LPPC’s Inaugural Members Conference
Broad coalition floats cost containment proposal as FERC eyes final grid rule
Groups Urge Inclusion of Cost Containment in FERC Tx Planning Rule
Energy Groups Press Regulators to Scrutinize Power Grid Costs
LPPC and Advocacy Groups Advance Transmission Planning Cost Management Proposal at FERC
LPPC Discusses Electrification at USEA's 2024 State of the Energy Industry Forum
PUF Covers LPPC Grid Reliability Event with Sen. Kevin Cramer
LPPC Hosts a Discussion on Reliability with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
Where Community Matters Most
LPPC Announces Tom Falcone, CEO of LIPA, and Jackie Flowers, Director of Utilities at Tacoma Public Utilities, as New Chair and Vice Chair
Commentary: Look no further than Long Island for a case for public power
Navigating the Path to a Sustainable and Reliable Power Supply
Clearing the Path for Permitting Reform
Leading on Clean Energy Expansion
Fitch Says Deleveraging Era Over For Public Power Utilities
LPPC Welcomes Nashville Electric Service as Newest Member
IRS guidance on renewable tax credit transferability, direct-pay provisions of IRA, garners mixed reviews
Treasury Proposes Rules on Monetizing Energy Tax Credits
Domestic Content Rules for Direct Pay Continue to Lack Clarity and Certainty
President’s Post: Permitting Reform & Protecting Direct Pay Priorities as LPPC CEOs Meet with Members of Congress
US Releases Made-in-America Rules for Clean Energy Credits
LPPC Calls for Certainty and Clarity on Domestic Content Requirements
Can Utilities Rise To The Challenges Presented By Decarbonization?
Panel Debates Impact of Renewables, Electrification on Reliability
To Electrify America, Advance Permitting Reform
LPPC Discusses Pathways to Decarbonization at USEA’s 2023 State of the Energy Industry Forum
LPPC Discusses Clean Energy Tax Credits and Decarbonization with Bloomberg Government
President's Post: Public Power CEOs and Federal Policymakers Convene at LPPC's Post-Election Forum
LPPC CEOs Present at the Public Power Community Forum
LPPC at National Clean Energy Week
LPPC Chair and Austin Energy General Manager, Jackie Sargent, Discusses Carbon-Free Goals and More on Grid Talk
U.S. public power sector tackles emerging ESG challenges, inflation
LPPC Submits Comments to FERC on Transmission Planning
LPPC Leads Cross-Industry Push for E-Mobility
LPPC Members Fly In to Advocate for Public Power Communities
A Preview of Energy Transition Hopes and Hurdles for 2022
API Taps New Chief Lobbyist
LPPC Signs Joint Letter on Sequestration and Direct Subsidy Bonds
Tulsa World: Utility Workers—A New, Unsung Hero Emerges During Times of Crisis
S&P Global: Municipal Utilities Call For Return Of Financial Tools To Get Through Pandemic
Morning Consult: Hidden Heroes Keeping The Lights On
Utility Dive: The (Energy) Efficient Road to Small Business Recovery