LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill designed to attract more wind farms to Nebraska has stalled in the Legislature.
Conservative senators mounted a filibuster Tuesday to block the proposed tax credit, arguing that the state shouldn’t subsidize wind energy. Senators voted 30-12 to bring the bill to a vote, but supporters needed 33 to overcome the filibuster.
The bill by Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha would have provided up to $75 million in tax credits over a decade for wind farms. The program would have ended on Dec. 31, 2021, unless renewed by lawmakers, and required companies to invest some of their money in Nebraska goods and services.
Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte led the filibuster, saying the turbines are an eyesore and government shouldn’t subsidize them.