Free public forum in Omaha Thursday night examines Nebraska data center energy and water impacts
A public forum in Omaha, Nebraska, will discuss the environmental and economic impacts of the state's growing data center industry, focusing on energy and water use. This comes as Governor Pillen has halted tax incentives for developers and several counties have enacted construction moratoriums. Concerns about natural resource protection and utility capacity are central to the debate.
The Nebraska Sierra Club is hosting a free public forum in Omaha to address the environmental and economic impacts of the state's burgeoning data center industry, particularly focusing on energy and water consumption. Ken Winston, the chapter director, will lead a community discussion on these issues, as Nebraska's 25 data center facilities are projected to significantly increase their power demand by 2035.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has taken action by signing an executive order to halt tax incentives for data center developers under the Imagine Nebraska Act, citing that the state has already contributed a "fair share" with over $317 million in credits and exemptions. While not advocating for a statewide moratorium, Governor Pillen supports changes to current practices and announced the formation of a task force within the Department of Water, Energy and Environment to protect land and natural resources.
Several counties have already enacted moratoriums on data center construction, including Otoe, Gage, and Seward counties. The Cass County Planning Commission has also recommended a pause following concerns raised by local residents, such as Jayden Speed, regarding the protection of natural resources.
The forum will also highlight water usage, with Google alone reportedly consuming 732 million gallons at its Nebraska campuses in 2025. Public power utilities like OPPD, LES, and NPPD face pressure to secure new power sources, and questions persist about who will fund necessary infrastructure upgrades. The discussion will also cover Nebraska's 2026 data center disclosure law and a recent bill signed by Pillen allowing private companies to build power generation facilities for data centers.