Governor Jim Pillen ceremoniously signed LB317 Wednesday morning that creates the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment. The bill combines the Department of Environment and Energy and the Department of Natural Resources. Pillen says one of the significant focuses of the new agency will be preserving and enhancing the state’s water resources.
“Water is our life blood, and our pot of gold is the Ogallala Aquifer,” Pillen says. “In Nebraska, we irrigate millions of acres , more than any other state in the nation. When you couple that with the advancements in cattle production and the other industries that are becoming part of our bioeconomy, that’s what makes this merger a timely development, one that is important for future generations.”
He was joined by Senator Tom Brandt, who sponsored the bill. He complimented Nebraska farmers and ranchers for being good stewards of their land and raising their crops and animals in the most sustainable way possible.
He said the new agency will provide them with additional resources and outreach as well as enhance collaboration when it comes to water planning, state investment in future water-related projects and permitting processes. “We’re cutting red tape, streamlining government and making sure our state works as hard as our farmers do,” Brandt says.
Jesse Bradley will serve as director of the new agency and Matt Manning is the newly appointed chief water officer for the state. Bradley says the merger will join the best of both agencies in supporting the management of Nebraska’s natural resources.
“In accomplishing that objective, we will ensure that Nebraska remains a leader in sustainable natural resources management and that those resources will continue to support our agricultural producers, energy providers, communities, and all Nebraskans for generations to come.”
Manning currently oversees the planning and development of the Perkins County Canal in western Nebraska. “I am excited to work with Governor Pillen, Director Bradley and our various stakeholders to enhance and protect the state’s most important natural resource for all Nebraskans, now and into the future,”
As gubernatorial appointees, Bradley and Manning will be presented to the Legislature for confirmation. The bill has an operational date of July 1, which will align with the beginning of the new fiscal biennium.