Senator introduces proposal to create Nebraska Office of Climate Action

Jan. 14, 2025, 3 p.m. ·

Nebraska Capitol (Photo by Fred Knapp, Nebraska Public Media News)
Nebraska Capitol (Photo by Fred Knapp, Nebraska Public Media News)

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A new state office aimed at improving the environment could be created by next summer under legislation introduced in the Unicameral this week.

Sen. Ashlei Spivey introduced legislation this week that would create an Office of Climate Action under the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.

The office would create a state climate action plan, coordinate federal grants and monitor how state legislation passed the prior year impacts the environment. Spivey, a Democrat who represents a North Omaha district, said it’s important to have a statewide strategy to ensure clean water, lead-free soil, and good air quality.

"Right now in the state, it's very siloed," she said. "Omaha just put out a climate action plan, this county over here might do it, but there's not a coordinating body at the state level that says, 'Here's what we're going to do as a state.'"

She said 38 other states have a climate action strategy and state coordinating body.

Seven other Democratic senators have signed on to the legislation, including Lincoln Sen. George Dungan. Dungan said climate action is a common request from his constituents.

"When I talk to folks in my district and across the state, especially groups of young folks, the environment is the number one issue that I get talked to about," he said. "I think that we as a state need to be leaders in stepping up and saying 'We got to take this seriously.'"

Dungan introduced legislation this week to keep homeowners associations from banning solar panels and pollinator gardens. He said also he plans to introduce a so-called 'green amendment' later this week guaranteeing the right to clean air, clean water and a healthy environment.

Most environment bills will go through the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Republican Sen. Tom Brandt. Dungan said he hopes to find agreement on climate policy across party lines.

"I think that it's one of the many issues that we can find some common ground on because whether we're talking about nowadays or in the future, we have to make sure that we have a clean environment for our future generation," he said.

Committee hearings will begin Jan. 22 and continue through March.

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