OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — At Standing Bear Lake Station, OPPD says a part of the start-up process begins with testing of the engines which can make the exhaust color yellow. Neighbors wonder if it is safe for the environment.
- "It did concern me. I just thought, why has it changed color and what is in it, you know, what's burning to make it yellow?"
- The Environmental Protection Agency says that this exhaust tuning is highly effective and reliable for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by as much as 90%.
- OPPD tells us the new substation is targeted to open by the end of March.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
Take a look at this. It's not black or white but yellow smoke coming from the substation starting up near 120th and military.
It's a concerning sight for some neighbors who live nearby. Many taking to the Nextdoor app to share their thoughts.
"It did concern me. I just thought, why has it changed color and what is in it, you know, what's burning to make it yellow?"
Kara Bachman is one of those neighbors. She lives in Blair and was on her drive home when she saw it last week.
"I guess I'm concerned more than anything, what's going up in our air. It doesn't just dissipate,” she said.
To find out what exactly it is, we reached out to OPPD who told us the colored smoke is all a part of the testing and tuning process to ensure the engines work properly before the station goes online.
OPPD says the tuning uses a catalyst and a reducing agent to greatly reduce NOx emissions by turning the exhaust into nitrogen and water vapor which they say ultimately results in cleaner exhaust.
But still, neighbors question if it's safe.
"There's a lot of kids around this neighborhood. I don't know if there's some respiratory stuff, but, you know, if it's, if it's long periods of time, we'd be on a raised alert level, I guess,” said Tanner Stauffacher, another neighbor.
The Environmental Protection Agency says that this exhaust tuning is highly effective and reliable for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by as much as 90%.
The testing is done for now.
In a statement OPPD says "This testing is a normal and necessary aspect of preparing the engines to work properly and to meet all EPA standards. Our regulators and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy are all aware of these commissioning activities."
OPPD tells us the new substation is targeted to open by the end of March.
