Cost, reliability of electricity questioned by Nebraska legislative committee
By Fred Knapp 
, Senior Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
Sept. 5, 2025, 5 p.m. ·
A legislative hearing Friday focused on the future cost and reliability of electricity in Nebraska.
Sen. Jared Storm is the lead introducer of a resolution, LR234, that calls for studying the effects of electrical suppliers’ goals of net-zero carbon emissions. In a public hearing Friday, Storm questioned the feasibility of that goal.
“Are we going to be able to achieve that in 2035, or 20 years down the road, or is it going to double people’s rates?” he asked.
Storm said in Maryland, shutting down a coal-fired power plant led to rolling blackouts in Baltimore. He questioned whether shifting to wind and solar power to reduce carbon emissions could have the same effect in Nebraska.
Tom Kent, CEO of the Nebraska Public Power District, said NPPD’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is not the same as no carbon emissions, but instead, relies on offsetting any emissions. Kent said having diverse sources of electricity is important.
“A system that's made on 100% natural gas, or 100% coal, or 100% nuclear, or 100% wind and solar is at more risk for reliability issues than a diverse system is,” he said.
The Natural Resources Committee is supposed to report to the full Legislature on the issue.