Nebraska 2nd District Candidates Debate Data Center Tax Incentives and Environmental Impacts
Candidates in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District debated whether data center developers need tax incentives and how communities should manage their impacts. They discussed electricity demand, water quality, the Ogallala Aquifer, environmental safeguards and local control, but the video did not address a specific data center project.
During a debate moderated by First Alert 6 anchor Brian Mastre, Nebraska 2nd District candidates Eric Foreman, Dennis Powell and Riker Harding agreed that billion-dollar data center companies should not receive tax incentives. Powell criticized approximately $9 billion in data center tax breaks included in the federal "Big Beautiful Bill," while Foreman proposed returning revenue to communities that provide land and infrastructure for the facilities.
The candidates also debated how data centers should address local impacts. Powell called for studies of utility costs, water quality and environmental effects before construction, while Harding emphasized local decision-making, self-generated power, small modular reactors and closed-loop cooling systems to protect the Ogallala Aquifer. The discussion remained focused on policy and campaign differences rather than a named project or government decision.