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Nebraska leaders weigh in on EPA grant to lower carbon emissions

Nebraska is receiving $307 million from the Environmental Protection Agency to tackle climate pollution.

Brownfield’s Brandon Peoples has more from the Governor’s Summit on Ag and Economic Development.

Andrew Dunkley, with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) says the funding will be distributed to the state in October.

“We are in negotiation with the EPA right now of exactly which effort is funded and how and then building those programs,” he says.

Gov. Jim Pillen says it’s an equity infusion into the state.

“To help us with power generation, to help us with anaerobic digestion of handling animal waste, building electricity, helping families put solar panels on their house,” he says.

NDEE will fund climate-smart measures and precision agriculture initiatives that reduce agricultural waste from livestock.

Dunkley says Nebraska was chosen for its commitment to sustainability in agriculture.

“We’re an innovative state and we are willing to put in place technologies that benefit not only ourselves and our communities but the entire state and agriculture on the whole,” he says.

The federal funding is the largest ever awarded to the department.

Photo credit: Panel discussion on water management at the 2024 Nebraska Governor’s Summit on Ag and Economic Development. Photo by Brandon Peoples