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Omaha Public Power District is working with community partners to provide greater access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for local drivers and those passing through our area.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) awarded $572,000 in grant funding to add five new DC (Level 3) fast-charging stations at strategically chosen locations. This afternoon, OPPD and the City of La Vista held a dedication ceremony at one of those locations, the parking lot of Cabela’s, 12703 Westport Pkwy.

“This is an exciting day for us,” said OPPD President & CEO Javier Fernandez. “More and more of our customer-owners are driving electric vehicles, and we want to continue to meet their growing needs for fast and accessible charging stations.”

OPPD used data from highway records, population and EV registration to select 10 initial location options along highway corridors. Of these, NDEE selected five, including the La Vista location. The other locations, all operational as of Jan. 21, include:

• Casey’s General Store

        210 E 6th St., North Bend

• Casey’s General Store

        1059 Washington St., Blair

• Casey’s General Store

        946 11th St., Syracuse

• Parking lot under Interstate 480

        17th & Cass St., Omaha

The DC fast-chargers at these locations are capable of fully charging an EV battery in about 30 minutes, as opposed to several hours for a full charge from a Level 2 charger. However, each charging station also includes a Level 2 charger, per requirements of the grant, as some older EVs cannot use DC fast-chargers.

According to records from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, EV ownership here in our state has grown from 400 in 2018 to more than 1,500 in 2021.

Since 2019, OPPD has also installed five Level 2 ChargePoint™ public chargers. Grant funding from the Nebraska Community Energy Alliance made this effort possible. These chargers are located where customers will stay for two to four hours – the time it typically takes this level of charger to recharge a vehicle. They include:

• OPPD’s Energy Plaza (one charger)

        16^th St. & Howard St., Omaha

• University of Nebraska Medical Center (two chargers)

         42^nd & Emile St., Omaha

• Mixed use office and retail development, NP Dodge (one charger)

        8601 West Dodge Rd., Omaha

• Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (two chargers)

        3701 South 10^th St., Omaha

OPPD’s Electric Vehicle Program offers EV education, a cost comparison calculator, and rebates. For more information, visit OPPD.com/ev.