OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - With the rise in manufacturing and AI, the need for energy is greater than ever. In response, OPPD is adding new natural gas power plants, but according to the utility, it won’t be enough to keep up with demand.

For the first time in more than two decades, OPPD commissioned two new power plants. One near 120th and military and one outside of Gretna. OPPD CEO Javier Fernandez says there’s a big reason for the construction.

“Part of it is through the digitization of the economy. You see data centers where we’re using information -- AI, but also the manufacturing. We’re seeing a very significant growth in manufacturing,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez says the utility didn’t see a need for more plants until that increase for manufacturing and AI became apparent in 2018. We

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