Sen. Tyson Larson addresses reporters during a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda. Sen. Heath Mello is to his right. Sen. Ken Haar is to his left.
State lawmakers serving on a special legislative committee say Nebraska needs to adopt a state climate action plan.
Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill, co-chair of the committee, says he wants to see the committee re-authorize so it can pursue recommendations finalized just prior to the legislative session.
“In terms of our recommendations for legislation, I think members of this committee or the legislature will see pieces of legislation that are affecting these things,” Larson tells reporters during a news conference at the Capitol.
The LR 455 special committee has delivered its final report just prior to the beginning of the new legislative session.
Its overarching recommendation is that the Unicameral re-authorize the committee to pursue “an evidence-based, data-driven state climate action plan.”
Larson says the committee would provide guidelines, but the actual drafting of a plan would fall to an outside group, either specialists in the area or university officials, such as those with the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Sen. Ken Haar of Malcom, the other co-chair, says citizens could have a big impact on the direction the Unicameral takes by speaking with their senator.
“And, at some point hopefully, that climate change and action or inaction will become a campaign issue in legislative races and federal races,” Haar says.
The first recommendation of the committee is for the new legislature to re-authorize it. It also wants to expand the PACE program which provides incentives to businesses and homeowners to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The committee also wants Nebraska to become friendlier for solar power, wind energy, and electric cars.
AUDIO: Members of the LR455 Committee discuss their final report. [16 min.]