Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 66. Oils, Fuels, and Energy § 66-2301. Clean hydrogen hub; legislative findings; Nebraska Hydrogen Hub Industry Work Group; members; duties; appropriations; legislative intent

(1) The Legislature finds that there is a unique benefit for the state to compete for designation by the United States Department of Energy as a location for a regional clean hydrogen hub. The development of a clean hydrogen hub in the state would provide the potential for significant investments in clean energy production, new infrastructure, and high-paying careers. The Legislature further finds that Nebraska is in a unique position to compete due to its central location, existing clean hydrogen-producing industry, synthetic and biofuels industry, demand for fertilizer used by its large agricultural industry, and railroad and trucking transportation network.

(3) It is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate two hundred fifty thousand dollars from the General Fund for FY2023-24 and two hundred fifty thousand dollars from the General Fund for FY2024-25 to the Department of Economic Development for the purpose of providing grants to any public power district that serves a majority of the counties in the state to be used for engineering and modeling work to prepare and support the state in competing for one of the United States Department of Energy's regional clean hydrogen hub designations and associated federal funding.

(4) The Department of Economic Development may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the grant program described in subsection (3) of this section.