Nebraska's climate planning program begins with webinar - Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska's climate planning program begins with webinar
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will host a webinar Tuesday to kick off statewide outreach efforts as it prepares to gather public input on climate action plans aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
The webinar, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., will provide an overview of Nebraska’s Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Program.
The state earlier this year received a $3 million federal planning grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, which is being funded by the multibillion-dollar Inflation Reduction Act, to develop and implement climate action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Through the grant, the agency first will develop a Priority Climate Action Plan, which is due March 1. That plan is intended to identify high-priority actions that can be readily implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on voluntary actions and financial incentives.
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After the state submits that plan, state and local government bodies in Nebraska will be eligible to submit applications to EPA, due by April 1, for competitive implementation grants to carry out actions consistent with the state priority plan.
The state’s priority plan will be followed by a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, due in August 2025. The comprehensive plan must explore short-term and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction measures across all sectors of the state’s economy.
The Omaha City Council in August accepted a separate $1 million grant from the EPA to create both priority and comprehensive climate action plans for the city. The move was the latest step in an effort that began in fall 2021, when the city began work on establishing a climate action plan to address the effects of climate change.
At the state level, the environment and energy agency will seek participation from a variety of stakeholders for both plans. The plans will include analyses of benefits to low-income and underserved communities.
Jim Macy
Jim Macy, the department’s director, said this summer that the agency will be reaching out in particular to ag and ag industry organizations.
“There’s a lot of excitement out there in the ag industry specifically of telling their story and engaging in this activity,” he said.
The webinar will provide an overview of current Nebraska greenhouse gas emissions, the elements the plans are required to cover, the economic sectors to be considered in the planning process and information about the implementation grants.
The agency will propose potential greenhouse gas reduction measures that could be implemented in each sector as starting points for public discussion in stakeholder working group sessions. The agency will begin scheduling those sessions after the webinar.
Interested individuals and organizations are invited to join working groups focused on agriculture/natural and working lands; energy production; transportation; buildings, housing and communities; and energy-intensive industries and waste management.
The webinar will be available on Webex via the following link: https://sonvideo.webex.com/sonvideo/j.php?MTID=mc09768b373cc195d70bb6b8…
A recording of the webinar will also be posted on the Nebraska Climate Pollution Reduction Planning program web page, http://dee.ne.gov/ndeqprog.nsf/onweb/cprg The web page also includes information on joining stakeholder working groups and for subscribing to the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant email listserv.
Separately, the agency announced Friday that it plans to apply for $91 million through two noncompetitive residential home energy rebate program grants also available under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Specifically, the programs are the Home Energy Performance-Based Whole House Rebate (Home Efficiency Rebates) and the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates).
“These home energy rebates will help Nebraska households save money on energy bills, improve home comfort and reduce air pollution and reliance on fossil fuels,” Macy said in a statement.
While the rebate programs have generated a lot of public interest, agency officials noted that they won’t be available immediately.
The agency is developing rebate programs and preparing its application for the grants, which are due to the U.S. Department of Energy by Jan. 31, 2025. The agency issued guidance to states for applying in late July.
Once the program is established and the agency has received the funds, rebates will remain available to Nebraskans through Sept. 30, 2031, or until the funds are spent.
Rebate recipients could receive up to $14,000 for a home electrification rebate, and low-income households could get up to $8,000 for a home efficiency rebate. Approximately 40% of rebate funding will go to low-income households.
The amount of rebate funding available per household will vary depending on factors such as the technologies being installed in the home and whether the project has energy savings and how those savings are calculated. Household income and project cost also will be considered.
While rebates through those programs are not yet available, Nebraska households may be eligible for other state and federal programs, including federal tax credits, the Weatherization Assistance Program and the Dollar & Energy Saving Low-Interest Loan Program.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023
Omaha Westside's Anthony Rezac (5) leaps over Millard South's Javonte Walker (1) into the end zone in the Omaha Westside vs. Millard South football game at Millard South High School in Omaha on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Omaha Westside won the game 31-14.
Omaha women are brought to tears during a rally in support of Palestinians at 72nd and Dodge Streets in Omaha on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.
Omaha Creighton Prep's Tony Coniglio (5) tries to get away from Papillion-La Vista's Payton Prestito (21) in the Papillion-La Vista vs. Omaha Creighton Prep football game at Omaha Burke High School in Omaha on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.
Bob Kerrey walks under the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.
Bob Kerrey gives a speech in front of the pedestrian bridge that bears his name on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.
Blair's Brock Templar sacks Elkhorn quarterback Kayd Matthews during the first half at Elkhorn on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
Elkhorn's Charlie Lamksi, right, celebrates catching a pass behind Blair's Ethan Baessler during the second half at Elkhorn on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
Lincoln Pius X players celebrate their victory following the Millard West vs. Lincoln Pius X district A-6 softball championship at Millard West High School in Omaha on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Lincoln Pius X won the title 4-3.
Omaha police investigate an officer-involved shooting near 60th and Jaynes Streets on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Creighton's Dominic Briggs (12) watches a shot sail past Omaha's Nathanael Sallah (30) and wide of the goal during the second half of a men's college soccer game at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
From left: Omaha's Ede Gramberg (8), Omaha's Gonzalo Cuevas (2) and Omaha's Theo Klein (10) celebrate Klein's goal during the second half of a men's college soccer game at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
julie.anderson@owh.com, 402-444-1066, twitter.com/julieanderson41
Related Knowledge Center: Climate economics
Climate change is now a driver of the world’s economy. The impact is profound:
- Catastrophic weather events — hurricanes, floods, droughts, high temperatures — are more frequent and more extreme. The cost can be measured in both the initial damage caused and the longer-term impact on the economy.
- Vulnerable communities are increasing climate-related investments, hardening infrastructure and taking other protective measures.
- Investment in carbon capture and storage technologies is increasingly rapidly.
- Governments are making investments and crafting regulations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
On top of all of this is the cost of uncertainty. As the Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in 2018 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, says, “The assumption that current and future climate conditions will resemble the recent past is no longer valid.”