Nebraska governor names 17 members to new Data Center Task Force

Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska announced the appointment of 17 members to the state's new Data Center Task Force on Tuesday. The formation of this task force follows an executive order issued by Governor Pillen in July, which also suspended tax incentives for data center projects in the state. The task force is tasked with evaluating the impacts of data centers on Nebraska's water resources, power grids, and local infrastructure, operating under the oversight of the Nebraska Department of Water, Environment and Energy (DWEE).

The governor emphasized the importance of balancing the booming data center industry with the protection of the state's valuable resources, including land, electricity, and water. The task force members, who bring expertise from various industries, are expected to provide the knowledge needed to make informed decisions on future data center development. They will also work to equip county officials with the necessary tools, zoning guidelines, and policy frameworks to manage such projects.

Among the appointed members are prominent figures from utility companies like Javier Fernandez of Omaha Public Power District and Tom Kent of Nebraska Public Power District, as well as county commissioners Micaela Wuehler (Lincoln County) and Angi Burmeister (Sarpy County). The creation of this task force comes after a period of intense pressure from residents in over a dozen Nebraska counties, who cited environmental concerns in urging local officials to halt data center development, prompting a shift in the governor's stance on facilitating data center growth.