Governor of Nebraska
Now: Governor verified October 12, 2026 · source (opens in a new tab)
Photo: Maj. Scott Ingalsbe, public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab), cropped.
Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections
Of 15 statements on the record, 2 were for data centers, 4 raised concerns about data centers, 1 was mixed and 8 carry no label.
Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.
Position History: Chronological record of positions across sourced statements.
- · Supports · KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln, NE
- · Raises concern · KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln, NE
- · Raises concern · KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln, NE
- · Raises concern · KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln, NE
Position note: Follows July 2026 statements describing Nebraska as appealing for data centers due to low electricity rates, accompanying an executive order suspending state tax incentives for large scale facilities.
- · Mixed · KETV
- · Supports · klin.com
- · Raises concern · klin.com
What they said
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Governor Jim Pillen said billion dollar data center companies are well positioned to pay their own way
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 1, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Kearney Hub (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Governor Jim Pillen said data center projects cannot be allowed to deplete natural resources
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 1, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Kearney Hub (opens in a new tab), local outlet
-
Governor Jim Pillen called for creation of a task force to study the impact of data centers on natural resources, land, water and electricity
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 1, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Kearney Hub (opens in a new tab), local outlet
-
Governor Jim Pillen said he generally opposes moratoriums, preferring that decisions be made on a case by case basis for individual communities and projects.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 22, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- klin.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "He said he generally opposes moratoriums, preferring that decisions be made on a case-by-case basis for individual communities and projects.".
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Governor Jim Pillen said Nebraska needs to protect water supplies, protect ratepayers, and should not give data center tax credits.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 22, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- klin.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "Nebraska needs to protect water supplies, protect ratepayers, and should not give data center tax credits".
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Data centers are necessary for staying ahead in the AI race and national defense
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Nebraska Governor's Office (.gov) (opens in a new tab), primary source
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
-
Governor Pillen said the task force will help evaluate the impact of data centers on Nebraska's water resources, power grids and local infrastructure
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Nebraska Governor's Office (.gov) (opens in a new tab), primary source
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
Label rationale: No label: the words support none. Both readings of the statement held it.
-
Governor Pillen said the task force will ensure county officials have necessary tools, zoning guidelines and policy frameworks to manage data center growth effectively
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
Label rationale: No label: the words are not clearly the speaker's own. The two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source held it.
-
Gov. Jim Pillen announced 17 members to the state's new Data Center Task Force
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- nebraskapublicmedia.org (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Task force membership includes 17 officials including executives from Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Tenaska, OPPD, NPPD, Lincoln Electric System, and county commissioners from multiple jurisdictions
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
Label rationale: No label: the words are not clearly the speaker's own. The two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source held it.
-
Pillen stated task force must balance economic development with protecting state resources including land, electricity and water
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KETV (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "task force must balance economic development with protecting state resources including land, electricity and water".
-
Gov. Pillen said data centers should not receive tax incentives and the state should attract givers not takers
Position note: Follows July 2026 statements describing Nebraska as appealing for data centers due to low electricity rates, accompanying an executive order suspending state tax incentives for large scale facilities.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: July 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "data centers should not receive tax incentives and the state should attract givers not takers".
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Gov. Jim Pillen said Nebraska is appealing because of available land, low electrical rates and abundant water, but has also provided tax incentives to data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: July 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "Nebraska is appealing because of available land, low electrical rates and abundant water, but has also provided tax incentives to data centers".
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The executive order will create a task force to propose safeguards to protect the state's natural resources from data center use
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: July 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "task force to propose safeguards to protect the state's natural resources from data center use".
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Gov. Pillen said the executive order will suspend state tax incentives for large scale data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: July 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "the executive order will suspend state tax incentives for large scale data centers".
How they voted
No vote on a data center measure on the record.
Something missing?
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Data Center Record, "Public statements by Jim Pillen", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/jim-pillen, last verified October 20, 2026.
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Last verified: October 12, 2026.