Gov Jim Pillen, Courtesy Governor’s Office
Governor Jim Pillen has appointed 17 utility, business, labor, and local government leaders to a newly created task force that will study the potential effects of data center development across Nebraska.
The Data Center Task Force was authorized through Pillen’s Executive Order 26-17 and will be overseen by the Nebraska Department of Water, Environment and Energy.
The group is charged with evaluating how existing and proposed data centers could affect Nebraska’s water resources, electrical grid and local infrastructure. It will also consider what tools, zoning guidelines and policy frameworks county officials may need to manage future development.
“This task force has a significant undertaking, but its work is critical to considering future data center development,” Pillen said in announcing the appointments.
Pillen described data centers as a rapidly expanding industry but said the state must protect its natural resources and energy system while considering additional development. He said the task force’s members bring experience from the energy, construction, water management, economic development, labor, and local government sectors.
Data centers can require substantial amounts of electricity to operate computer equipment and cooling systems. Depending on their design and location, the facilities can also place additional demands on water supplies, utility infrastructure, roads and other local services.
Nebraska’s publicly owned electric utilities will have significant representation on the task force. Its members include Lincoln Electric System CEO Emeka Anyanwu, Omaha Public Power District CEO Javier Fernandez and Nebraska Public Power District President and CEO Tom Kent.
The panel also includes executives from Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Tenaska, Kiewit Infrastructure Group and HDR, along with representatives of rural electric systems, natural resources districts, county governments, organized labor and economic development organizations.
The 17 appointees are:
* Mark Hewett, president, CEO and director of Berkshire Hathaway Energy
* Chris Leitner, president and CEO of Tenaska
* David Miles, president of Kiewit Infrastructure Group
* Mike Miller, broadband group leader at HDR
* Retired Air Force General Tony Cotton, former commander of U.S. Strategic Command
* Javier Fernandez, CEO of the Omaha Public Power District
* Tom Kent, president and CEO of the Nebraska Public Power District
* Emeka Anyanwu, CEO of the Lincoln Electric System
* Rick Nelson, general manager of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association
* Micaela Wuehler, Lincoln County commissioner
* Angi Burmeister, Sarpy County commissioner
* Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber
* Kevin Stocker, Nebraska Public Service Commission member
* Ron Kaminski, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nebraska and Southwest Iowa
* John Winkler, general manager of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
* Dave Eichenberg, general manager of the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District
* Doug Whitfield, vice president of water operations for the Metropolitan Utilities District
The administration says the task force is expected to hold its first meeting in September.
Pillen has recently emphasized safeguards surrounding data center development, including protections for utility customers and the state’s energy resources. The task force’s work is intended to help state and county officials decide how to balance potential development with the preservation of Nebraska’s electricity, water and land resources.