It’s one of the economic engines that drives Washington County, the Omaha Public Power District’s Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant.
The plant has been operating since 1973 and employs nearly 700 people.
Earlier this month, people were stunned when OPPD’s CEO Tim Burke wants to close down the plant, because he said it’s no longer sustainable.
From social media to letters to the newspaper, more and more people are hoping OPPD’s board of directors decides against shutting it down.
Even local businesses fear they may feel the impact.
“We have a lot of customers from the plant,” said Jimmy Smith, manager at The Rustic restaurant in Fort Calhoun.
Smith’s family owns The Rustic in the town for years and said when the news broke over a week ago, he thought about his loyal customers.
“I just thought about our guys that come in the morning, we have a big group of guys that come in, they drink right after they get off work because they get off at 6-7 in the morning, so they come in and eat breakfast,” said Smith.
Over in Blair, some businesses may lose clients they relied on in the past.
“I do think it would have an effect, we do catering at the OPPD plant,” said Fernando’s Café and Cantina manager Sandra Fields.
Burke said as the power industry changes, operating the plant is no longer financially sustainable and the utility needs to find ways to keep customers rates as low as possible.
Fort Calhoun generates 34% of OPPD’s electricity; the utility said it will look into natural gas, wind energy and contracts with other utilities to make up the difference.
“It is going to be tough and it should be, I think it should be tough, and we have to take those things into consideration,” said Burke.
Since the announcement a Facebook and Twitter page were created to garner up support against closing the plant down.
“It's been a whirlwind as far as trying to get things out, to raise awareness on it,” said Annie Shotwell, owner of The Sign Depot in Blair.
T-shirts and yard signs designed by a plant employee and his daughter were made by the dozens.
“Just to show your support for the families that are going to be-hopefully not impacted but right now they are all super stressed out,” said Shotwell.
Shotwell said she was shocked by the news and trying to help out in any way she can.
“It will be a big deal if something happens. Hopefully it's not a done deal,” said Shotwell.
The OPPD board is scheduled to make its final decision on whether to close the plant on June 16th.
