Press

NLCV ED FUND LAUNCHES PowerUpNebraska.Org Campaign for Renewable Energy and Efficiency  

"Why aren’t we building more wind?”  “The cheapest kilowatt is the one you don’t use!”

If you feel that it is time for Nebraska’s public power officials to pick up the pace in providing clean renewable energy and green jobs for a strong economy, you will want to be a part of ‘Power Up Nebraska’.  This November, Nebraskans will elect over 80 leaders to this utility, and these officials can lead or obstruct the way to new solutions in this rapidly changing industry. 

Led by NLCV Program Coordinator Eva Sohl, PowerUp Nebraska has asked all board members and candidates for public power district offices to sign the Clean Energy Pledge, to produce 20% of Nebraska’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and to commit to investing in efficiency programs at the top 10% of all utilities in America. 

Nebraskans can sign an electronic petition to their own representatives at www.powerupnebraska.org The campaign’s slogan, “People, Power, Prosperity” emphasizes the economic opportunities available through the common sense solutions that are good for our environment and reduce our carbon footprint.

“As the country grapples with our current economic situation, people want to see leadership and solutions.  Our public power system has the opportunity to utilize Nebraska’s renewable natural resources to revitalize our economy, strengthen our national security and move toward energy independence” stated Sohl.

According to a study released by the University of Nebraska Center for Applied Rural Innovation in 2008, 88 percent of rural Nebraskans considered the rise in energy costs a problem, 91 percent of rural Nebraskans agree that “more should be done to develop renewable energy” and 72 percent of rural Nebraskans believe that “Americans must change their lifestyles to reduce energy consumption to avoid the onset of an energy ‘crisis’ in the U.S.” 

Nebraska can cultivate the 6th largest wind resource in the nation as well as a wealth of other natural resources.  If developed, these resources would increase jobs in Nebraska and the amount of power generated in-state, and create true home-grown economic development.