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BILL, WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING FOR A LONG TIME. MADISON. THANK YOU. STAYING IN THE LEGISLATURE, NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS HEARD TESTIMONY ON A BILL THAT WOULD BAN THE CLOSURE OF CERTAIN ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES. THE POLICY OF THE STATE IS FOR PUBLIC POWER DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE WITH ADEQUATE AND RELIABLE ELECTRIC SERVICE, AT AS LOW COST AS POSSIBLE. SHUTTING DOWN FUNCTIONAL AND NEEDED GENERATION GOES DIRECTLY AGAINST THE POLICY OF THIS STATE. THE BILL WOULD PREVENT ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS FROM CLOSING ELECTRIC GENERATION FACILITIES. IF THE SUPPLIER HAS CUSTOMERS WAITING FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE. GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN SUPPORTS THE MEASURE. IT FOLLOWS HIS ORDER TO KEEP THE NORTH OMAHA OPPD COAL PLANT OPERATING. OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY IT DISREGARDS COMMUNITY. 2025 COMMUNITY SURVEY OF 131 NORTH OMAHA RESIDENTS CONDUCTED BY BOLD, NEBRASKA. NEARLY HALF, 48.9%, REPORTED SMELLING SMOKE IN THE AIR AND 42.7 NOTICED BAD ODORS AROUND THEIR HOMES. OVER 93% SAID THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAS NOT IMPROVED OR HAS GOTTEN WORSE, AND NEARLY 69% BELIEVE NORTH OMAHA HAS NOT BEEN TREATED FAIRLY IN DECISIONS ABOUT POLLUTION AND ENERGY. THE BILL WOULD ALLOW FOR FOUR CASES IN WHICH A FACILITY COULD BE CLOSED. THOSE INCLUDE THE FACILITIES RETIREMENT BEING MANDATED BY FEDERAL OR STATE LAW, AND THE FACILITY BEING DEEMED UNSAFE TO OPERATE.
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LB1026 is a proposed Nebraska State bill and today lawmakers heard testimony on the piece of legislation that seeks to prohibit the closure of certain power plants.The bill seeks to precent electric suppliers from closing certain generation facilities, if the supplier has customers waiting for electric service.Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, who ordered a north Omaha OPPD coal plant to remain open, despite plans to shut it down, last year says he supports the legislation.Opponents detest, saying it disregards communities being impacted by plants like the one in North Omaha.Zeke Rouse, a policy analyst and lobbyist from SPARK CID, a nonprofit looking to revitalize Omaha, cited a 2025 community survey of 131 North Omaha residents, conducted by Volt Nebraska, where just under half of respondents reported smelling smoke in the air and 42.7% said they noticed bad odors. Over 93% said that their neighborhood’s environmental health has not improved, or has gotten worse, while 69% believe North Omaha has not been treated fairly in decisions about pollution and energy.If the bill passes, a Nebraska power plant could only close under four different conditions. Those include a mandatory closure by federal or state law, being deemed mechanically unsafe to operate, damaged beyond repair due to a natural disaster, or being deemed “uneconomical”.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
LB1026 is a proposed Nebraska State bill and today lawmakers heard testimony on the piece of legislation that seeks to prohibit the closure of certain power plants.
The bill seeks to precent electric suppliers from closing certain generation facilities, if the supplier has customers waiting for electric service.
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Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, who ordered a north Omaha OPPD coal plant to remain open, despite plans to shut it down, last year says he supports the legislation.
Opponents detest, saying it disregards communities being impacted by plants like the one in North Omaha.
Zeke Rouse, a policy analyst and lobbyist from SPARK CID, a nonprofit looking to revitalize Omaha, cited a 2025 community survey of 131 North Omaha residents, conducted by Volt Nebraska, where just under half of respondents reported smelling smoke in the air and 42.7% said they noticed bad odors. Over 93% said that their neighborhood’s environmental health has not improved, or has gotten worse, while 69% believe North Omaha has not been treated fairly in decisions about pollution and energy.
If the bill passes, a Nebraska power plant could only close under four different conditions. Those include a mandatory closure by federal or state law, being deemed mechanically unsafe to operate, damaged beyond repair due to a natural disaster, or being deemed “uneconomical”.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
