Councilor to propose NREL review of PRPA resource plan amid public pressure; airport advisory board faces public scrutiny

Councilors used the Oct. 15 pre-session to report constituent pressure for a third-party review of the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and to flag public concern about airport operations. The Chair said she will seek a motion at the next PRPA meeting to request a review by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

"We have been getting a lot of letters that they want third-party oversight review of the IRP," the Chair said, adding she planned to "make a motion that we have NREL look at it only" to allow an elected-official discussion and vote at PRPA. She noted she did not expect to get a second but said making a motion is a way to prompt discussion and clarify elected officials' positions for residents.

Council members also discussed a procurement controversy at PRPA over an "all-dispatchable" request for proposals and whether alternative bids (including gas turbines) had been fairly considered. One councilor asked staff to research how many bids were received and the procurement timeline.

Separately, councilors reported pressure on the airport advisory board from residents upset about increased flight activity. Council member 4 said November will include public discussion and urged council help to prepare both the advisory board and the public for that meeting.

No formal city action on PRPA or the airport was recorded at the pre-session; the Chair’s intention to propose an NREL review would be taken up at PRPA, and any motion or vote would be recorded at that authority's meeting.