Republican candidate for Governor, Nebraska
On your ballot Governor, Nebraska, In office (certified list (opens in a new tab), verified October 9, 2026)
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
-
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
-
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".
-
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
-
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".
-
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".
-
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".
-
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".
Where we looked
The record last searched for Jim Pillen and Joe Kelly's words on October 23, 2026.
How they voted
No vote on a data center measure on the record.
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Something missing?
Know a sourced statement by Jim Pillen and Joe Kelly on data centers that is not here? Send the link. It goes to the record's inbox as a card routed to this person and publishes only after it is read against its source.
Are you Jim Pillen and Joe Kelly or on the campaign? Ask for a correction or send a statement, or email corrections@datacenterrecord.org.
Data Center Record, "Public statements by Jim Pillen and Joe Kelly", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/jim-pillen-and-joe-kelly, last verified October 23, 2026.
Reusing this page
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Last verified: October 12, 2026.