Nebraska can provide a roadmap for U.S. energy and tech leadership • Nebraska Examiner

When President Trump unveiled his new Domestic Energy Council in November, he noted that, “with U.S. energy dominance, we will drive down Inflation, win the A.I. arms race with China (and others), and expand American diplomatic power.” To get a glimpse of how this would work in practice, look no further than Nebraska.

Few states have successfully achieved the all-of-the-above energy mix that Nebraskans enjoy today. The Cornhusker State’s balanced, diverse energy portfolio and publicly owned power utilities have yielded tremendous results for Nebraska residents, and we consistently rank near the top of all states in grid reliability and lowest-cost electricity rates. Lowering these energy costs has helped combat the inflation that has eroded so many Americans’ standard of living over the past several years.

Smart energy policy is not only a boon for residential consumers but also bolsters our industrial strength. Industrial customers account for most of Nebraska’s energy consumption, so maintaining low energy prices translates into a competitive edge for our state’s farmers and ranchers, meatpackers, truckers and manufacturers. President Trump has made rebuilding American industrial might a centerpiece of his administration, and Nebraska has shown what strategic energy and infrastructure development can do to attract jobs and investment.

The race with China on AI

A similar lesson can be applied to the AI race with China that President Trump has made clear he intends to win. Energy dominance and tech leadership have become increasingly intertwined, and it is not a coincidence that Nebraska’s high marks in energy and grid reliability have corresponded with a growth in our state’s tech workforce and data center construction.

Tech jobs across our state numbered approximately 37,000 in 2022, an eight percent year-over-year increase, according to a study from the University of Nebraska prepared for the Nebraska Tech Collaborative. The same study found that this industry had a $20 billion annual economic footprint in Nebraska.

Data centers are key to this booming innovation economy, and they represent the backbone of the AI and cloud capabilities being harnessed by Nebraska businesses, academic institutions and government agencies. Mom and pop retailers use these tools to punch above their weight in the marketplace, and recently local hospitals have started incorporating AI in their daily operations both to streamline administrative tasks like charting and to improve patient care, as it helps address nursing shortages by re-assessing appropriate staffing ratios. Companies, including Union Pacific, use AI tools to optimize operations and work with customers to help predict shipping patterns and better align service with needs.

Role of higher learning

Local universities are leveraging AI’s growth in Nebraska and offer new courses to ensure that we are attracting and cultivating the skilled workforce we need to sharpen U.S. tech competitiveness and win the AI arms race. In fact, the University of Nebraska at Omaha is leading the charge with the state’s first AI-focused bachelor’s degree.

With a 74 percent surge in demand for AI specialists over the past five years, our academic institutions recognize the need to close the skills gap and cultivate home-grown talent to help drive the innovation economy forward. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said it well during a data center announcement in Lincoln: “The importance of innovation in national security and AI between the public and private sectors cannot be understated, and we’re working on that right here in Nebraska.”

Nebraska’s position as an energy and tech leader can offer the new administration a battle-tested roadmap for how to fuel innovation and attract investment through smart, pragmatic policies. The best thing we can do as a state is keep our foot on the accelerator and continue to lead by example.

Brett Lindstrom is an executive and advisor in financial services and charitable giving and served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015-2023, including as chair of the Banking, Insurance and Commerce committee. The Republican ran for governor in 2022.