At the beginning of 2008, Nebraska had 323 generating units (including 47 wind turbines) with a total of 7,423 megawatts capacity.  These units had 6,972 megawatts net summer capacity and 7,144 megawatts net winter capacity.

Most of the nameplate capacity came from generators using coal (43 percent), natural gas (29 percent), nuclear energy (18 percent), petroleum (five percent), and hydroelectric power (four percent).  Twenty-six (26) percent of the generating units used renewable fuels (hydroelectric power, wind, biomass, landfill gas, and solar) which contributed nearly six percent of the capacity.  Five (5) percent of the generating units used coal which contributed 43 percent of the state's electricity capacity, and less than one percent of the units used nuclear energy which contributed 18 percent.  Thirty-six (36) percent of the generating units used natural gas which contributed 29 percent of Nebraska's electricity capacity, and 32 percent of the units used petroleum which contributed five percent.

The Units and Capacity by Energy Source and Year of Initial Operation report, the Generating Units report, and the Annual Electricity Generation report are available for additional information.

A Note About Nameplate Capacity

Summer capacity and winter capacity is sometimes greater than nameplate capacity.  The nameplate gives the capacity rating of the generator when it operates at certain temperatures, pressures, and power factors.  With some modifications and with some margins that are built into generators, it is possible to exceed its nameplate.  It is not uncommon for a generator to exceed its nameplate.  The nameplate is usually not replaced and, in this case, the summer and winter capacity is often much higher than the nameplate value.  Normally, you expect summer and winter capacity to be below nameplate capacity and in most cases they are.

Sources:  Electric Power Annual.  Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC.  Nebraska Energy Office, Lincoln, NE.

Note:  NA indicates not applicable.

The table and graphs were updated on June 3, 2009.  Typically, there is one year between updates.

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