American Energy “Friendly” Counties

An URGENT Call to Action to Oppose LB503

Revenue
Location: Room 1524
Time: 1:30 PM

Document: LB503
Introducer: Bosn
Description: Authorize the designation of American energy friendly counties and change provisions relating to privately developed renewable energy generation facilities and the nameplate capacity tax

Statement of Intent: *LB503 would allow counties to become an American energy friendly county through a solution by the county or a vote of the people. The owner of a privately developed renewable energy generation facility that operates in an American energy friendly county will pay a nameplate capacity tax at one and one-half times the rate set for other privately developed renewable energy generation facilities.*

Download the Bill Introduction and Submit an Online Comment here: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58901

More Information: Several counties across Nebraska have fought tirelessly to keep wind and/or solar farms out of their counties. LB503 creates the potential for solar and wind farms to circumvent the dedicated individuals, communities, and commissioners that have long defended themselves and others from their intrusion. Upon the passage of a resolution the county may or may not put it to a vote by the people and apply for the special designation. With the special designation private energy developers would no longer have to go through the current process of special permit uses and public hearings.

By simply putting the question on the ballot that looks pro-USA,  “Shall the county of [name of the county] apply for an American energy friendly county designation?”, many voters could be misled into supporting an issue they didn’t intend to support.

LB503 in many respects looks to be a workaround for solar and wind farms to get into counties without true informed consent. Their neighbors would also lose their input on visibility and sound levels of the energy source development. ⤵️

ALSO Email the Revenue Committee to OPPOSE the advancement of LB503:
Sen. R. Brad von Gillern, Chairperson – bvongillern@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Mike Jacobson, Vice Chairperson – mjacobson@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Eliot Bostar – Ebostar@leg.ne.gov
Sen. George Dungan – Gdungan@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Teresa lbach – tibach@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Kathleen Kauth – kkauth@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Dave Murman – dmurman@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Tony Sorrentino – TSorrentino@leg.ne.gov

Before we let you go, we feel it’s important that people understand our senators are in a scramble to recover the $430 million deficit following the spending spree the previous legislative session. Their proposed solutions are a multitude of increased taxes, special tax credits, and curbing the market to pick winners and losers. Unfortunately, in the end, that will be us, the normal, everyday hardworking Americans.

LB526 aims to cut out crypto miners by increasing their tax on energy consumption – effectively pushing them out of Nebraska. (Revenue Committee) https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59369&docnum=LB526&leg=109

LB114 aims to increase the cost of DMV records pulled by Insurance companies, while large corporations may be able to absorb this increase, the potential increase of $10k to a small NE insurance company would put them out of business. (Transportation and Telecommunications Committee)  https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59073&docnum=LB114&leg=109

Do feel free to email our senators opposing these bills as well.

There are many more bills just like the ones above. Our senators need to hear us loud and clear. The solution is NOT to increase taxes and sources of revenue. The solution IS to CUT SPENDING, eliminate exemptions, and move into EPIC Option!