Data centers and windmills: Nebraska lawmakers discuss changes to state's energy rules

A panel of Nebraska lawmakers convened in Lincoln to review three legislative proposals concerning the state's evolving power needs. Two of these bills aim to establish regulations for large utility consumers, such as data centers, following increasing statewide apprehension about their impact on local communities and energy resources. The discussions also brought to light public discontent with wind turbines and solar farms, reflecting broader sentiments on renewable energy. The context for these legislative efforts includes the Omaha Public Power District's (OPPD) recent expansion of its generation facilities. The article points to a cryptocurrency data center in northeast Kearney as an illustration of the problem, noting its electricity demand is equivalent to that of the entire city of Kearney. Furthermore, a smaller 20-acre data center is also planned for Tech One Crossing in Kearney, underscoring the mounting pressure on Nebraska's energy infrastructure from data center developments.