By Senator Tom Brewer
I have been getting a lot of calls from citizens concerned about a new renewable energy facility being built in their county. The federal government’s policies concerning renewable energy subsidies are driving out-of-state renewable energy companies to build their projects in Nebraska. The most effective way to stop them is to get the county government on your side.
Let’s all be sure and remember that the hundreds of billions of dollars being spent by our federal government on renewable energy subsides are all borrowed (printed) money. This money will be paid back by our grand children and great-grandchildren. What, exactly, is the good thing we Americans are supposed to be getting in trade for putting a massive financial liability on the yet-unborn taxpayers for an intermittent generator of electricity?
All of Nebraska’s public utilities will say the ‘good’ thing we citizens are receiving for all of this federal deficit spending is being “carbon neutral by 2050.” I wish the goal was providing the cheapest residential electricity, or the most reliable electricity. Instead, the boards of our public utilities all embrace the idea man-made carbon dioxide is destroying the planet. Of course, for a goal like this to make any sense, the rest of the planet would have to share in this latest climate fad with equal enthusiasm. That is not the case.
In 2023, the country of China accounted for 95% of construction of the world’s new coal power plants. There are a total of 1,142 operating coal-fired plants in China, which is five times more than in the U.S. Indonesia has forty new coal plants under construction. Japan is Australia’s top importer of coal.
Coal mined in the USA is being shipped overseas to generate electricity, especially in Asia’s growing economies. Meanwhile back in Nebraska we are deliberately neglecting what Asia would love to have. Nebraska has over a one thousand year supply of coal right next door in Wyoming. Nebraska is also blessed to have over 500 miles of modern, high speed, world-class double track railroad. Whats more is we have TWO of those railroads that travel the length of the state. One of those railroads is even headquartered in our largest city. They provide tens of thousands of high-quality jobs to Nebraskans across the state.
Coal is the cheapest and most reliable way to make electricity. Because of the EPA and other federal regulations, 98% of what is seen from the smokestack is water vapor with no solid particles. It’s not emission-free like nuclear, but it isn’t destroying the planet. Asia clearly understands that.
Unfortunately, one of our public utilities could not build a new coal generator even if they wanted to. A host of agencies from the federal creature would not allow it. Instead, the USA imports wind turbines and solar panels.
I will be very happy to see a change in the federal government’s energy priorities after the coming election because they are directly affecting people in my district. If congress finally acts responsibly and ends the subsidy, you will never see another renewable generator built.
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, or concerns. Email me at tbrewer@leg.ne.gov, mail a letter to Sen. Tom Brewer, Room #1423, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, or call us at (402) 471-2628.