LINCOLN, NE — The president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy today told Nebraskans that their state was poised to play a pivotal role in America’s energy future.
Addressing the annual meeting of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Karen Harbert highlighted obstacles and opportunities facing Nebraska and the nation in ensuring a secure and prosperous 21st century energy economy. Harbert told attendees—including Governor David Heineman—that a comprehensive plan that takes advantage of all resources and promotes investments in efficiency and infrastructure will be needed to meet growing energy needs in Nebraska and across the nation.
“With its abundant natural resources like wind and biofuels and its diverse energy portfolio that includes coal, nuclear and hydroelectric power, Nebraska has an opportunity to demonstrate that the best approach to energy is a comprehensive one,” said Harbert.
Currently, Nebraska is reliant on coal for about two-thirds of its electricity, with nuclear providing about 30 percent and hydroelectric power the remainder.
“Nebraskans know first-hand the benefits of clean, emissions-free nuclear power,” Harbert said. “That means that Nebraskans also have a stake in ensuring that the federal government meet its legal obligations to handle the waste from those reactors.”
371 thousand megawatts of electricity are produced every year at the Fort Cooper and Calhoun nuclear power plants in Nebraska. The Obama Administration’s FY2011 budget proposes to permanently cancel the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository program without an effective alternative plan for nuclear waste.
Harbert also discussed the need to streamline the burdensome permitting process for energy projects of all types, which is strangling the business community’s ability to build and expand traditional and renewable energy projects.
“The regulatory process is now being manipulated to delay and cancel needed energy projects,” Harbert said. “We must put an end to all of the “green tape”—the frequent abuse of environmental and siting regulations - which is threatening new energy projects and the jobs and industries they could create.”
While in Nebraska, Harbert met with lawmakers as well as editorial writers of the Lincoln Journal Star. Harbert also taped an interview with the Mid American Money Program at Creighton University that will air regionally in the coming weeks.
The mission of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy is to unify policymakers, regulators, business leaders, and the American public behind a common sense energy strategy to help keep America secure, prosperous, and clean. Through policy development, education, and advocacy, the Institute is building support for meaningful action at the local, state, national, and international levels.
The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.