Nebraska is the first Republican-controlled state to adopt carbon neutrality in the U.S.

Earlier this month, the Nebraska Public Power District’s Board of Directors made history by approving a goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from the state’s power sector by 2050. With this decision, nearly every Nebraskan now receives electricity from a utility committed to carbon neutrality; the state’s other two public power districts already have net zero commitments in place. 

Nebraska also became the first Republican-controlled state to effectively adopt carbon neutrality. In a state with publicly owned utilities and board members elected by residents, this decision sends an especially strong signal that Nebraskans support a clean energy future. 

The state already gets nearly 25% of its electricity from wind, solar, and energy storage and produces enough clean energy for 734,000 homes. 2,100 Nebraskans work in the renewable energy industry, which has brought $4 billion in capital investment to the state and $28.1 million in taxes to local communities. Clean power projects provide drought-proof income to farmers and landowners in the state, with $4.8 million in land lease payments being distributed in 2021 alone. 

Nebraska joins 23 other states in the U.S. that have carbon free electricity goals.