Senators advance bill for energy projects in response to Google's proposal for a Nebraska data center
By Noelle Annonen 
, Multimedia Reporter
March 18, 2026, 8 p.m. ·
Senators advanced a bill Wednesday regulating large, private energy projects, specifically relating to data centers.
The debate came after Flatwater Free Press reported that Google plans to build a data center in Nebraska that will use as much power as the city of Lincoln.
Senators were divided on the bill, which lays out financial requirements for any private company that wants to build a large project in the state, requiring that the project connect to a public utility to power it and pay for the necessary upgrades. Several lawmakers supported the bill, arguing that any such upgrades would otherwise be paid for by ratepayers rather than a private company.
Others opposed the project, largely on environmental grounds. Several senators were concerned about the power and water usage for a large project, like a data center. Sen. Terrell McKinney was among them.
“I’ve seen the many red flags from other states that are dealing with data center creations and projects,” McKinney said.
He added that he does not like the bill because data centers do not bring needed jobs into the state.
Sen. Barry DeKay, who brought forward the bill on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen, noted the eminent domain restrictions in the bill, which would protect private companies from having their infrastructure taken over by public utilities. But he maintained that public power utilities come out strong, regardless.
“Public power still holds the keys to what happens with private power going forward,” DeKay said.
Sen. Danielle Conrad was not convinced.
“Public power and members of this body need to learn to say no when big business comes knocking at their doors and seeks to break apart our public power system and fleece the taxpayers,” Conrad said.
Nevertheless, the bill advanced and lawmakers plan to work further on the bill as it advances towards its final vote.
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