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On August 19, 2026, Governor Jim Pillen announced the appointment of 17 members to Nebraska's newly created Data Center Task Force. The task force was created as part of Executive Order 26-17 and is overseen by the Nebraska Department of Water, Environment and Energy (DWEE). Its stated purpose is to evaluate the potential impacts of data centers on Nebraska's water resources, power grids, and local infrastructure, while also helping ensure counties have appropriate tools, zon

The word "moratorium" has become one of the most talked-about words in the Cass County data center discussion. We've seen people describe a moratorium as everything from a permanent ban to a way for the county to stop a project indefinitely. Neither description is necessarily accurate. So, what is a moratorium? And, more importantly: What would a moratorium actually mean for Cass County? Let's break it down. As a reminder, there is currently no formal application before Cass

*This is the version that will be discussed at the Cass County Commissioner's meeting on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Section 8.25 Data Centers No data center shall be constructed within the zoning jurisdiction of Cass County unless a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) has been issued - Refer to Article 7. Section 8.25.01 Purpose The purpose of this section is to regulate the placement and operation of Data Centers in Cass County in a manner that protects public health, safety, and

Over the past four articles, we've built a foundation for understanding how Nebraska's property tax system works. We've covered: How property taxes are calculated. How homes, farmland, commercial, and industrial property are valued. How billion-dollar facilities like power plants and data centers are assessed. Why ownership matters when discussing property taxes. Now it's time to answer one of the biggest questions we've seen: "If a privately owned power plant and a large ind

In Part 1, we explained how property taxes are calculated. In Part 2, we explored how homes, farmland, businesses, and industrial property are valued. In Part 3, we looked at how billion-dollar facilities such as natural gas power plants and data centers are appraised. Now we come to one of the most important—and often misunderstood—parts of this discussion: Why does it matter whether a power plant is publicly owned or privately owned? The answer has everything to do with how

In Part 1 of this series, we explained how property taxes are calculated in Nebraska. In Part 2, we looked at how homes, farmland, businesses, and industrial property are valued today. Now we're ready to tackle one of the biggest questions in this discussion: If a large privately owned power plant or data center were built in Cass County, how much would it actually be worth for property tax purposes? This is one of the most important pieces of understanding the overall tax di

In Part 1 of this series, we explained how property taxes are calculated in Nebraska. We learned that property taxes are determined through two separate processes: The County Assessor determines the taxable value of property. Local governments determine how much revenue they need and set tax levy rates. Now let's look at the first part of that equation: How much is property in Cass County actually worth? Understanding today's property values provides important context before

One of the most common questions we're seeing asked is: "How would a large industrial project affect my property taxes or my area?" It's a great question—but before we can answer it, we first need to understand how property taxes are calculated in Nebraska. Property taxes are often one of the most misunderstood parts of local government. Many people assume one office or one elected official determines what they pay. In reality, property taxes are the result of two separate pr

We've established in previous posts that, at this time, based on the publicly available information we have reviewed, there is no formal development application before the Cass County Planning Commission or Cass County Board of Commissioners from Tenaska, Google, or another industrial partner for a data center or similar industrial development. But what would happen if an application were submitted? A company generally cannot simply purchase land and begin constructing a majo

As conversations continue about Tenaska and potential future development in Cass County, maps and information have circulated identifying properties connected to Tenaska. This has led to an important question: Has Tenaska actually purchased this land? Based on the publicly available information we have reviewed, Tenaska has obtained purchase options on properties in the area. An option to purchase property is not the same thing as purchasing or owning the property. Here's wha

Where Did the Information About a Potential Cass County Data Center Come From? As conversations about a potential data center continue in Cass County, we wanted to trace the information back to its original source. Much of the public discussion surrounding a potential Google data center, Tenaska power plant, and related industrial development appears to trace back to reporting published by the Flatwater Free Press on March 13, 2026. The Flatwater Free Press reported that it h

If you've heard about recent Cass County Planning Commission and County Board meetings involving zoning and data centers, you may be wondering: What exactly is being decided? Is there a data center application? Is Tenaska seeking approval for a project? Here's what we know. First: What Is Zoning? Zoning is a set of local regulations that determines how land can be used in different areas of a county. Zoning regulations can establish where different types of development—such a

This post is not intended to respond to any one concern regarding the proposed Tenaska project, Lincoln Water 2.0, or a potential future data center. Instead, our goal is to provide perspective on water availability and water use in eastern Cass County using publicly available information. CURRENT WATER RESOURCES IN CASS COUNTY Water availability has been a topic of discussion in Cass County long before the proposed Tenaska project. During Planning Commission meetings regardi

What does the recently shared map actually show? This map has recently been circulating that identifies parcels of land in Cass County. We wanted to provide some context to help distinguish what is currently known from what has not been officially proposed. The map appears to correctly identify some of the parcels on which Tenaska has obtained purchase options. However, at this time there is no official proposal for a Google data center—or a data center by any other company—i

A current misconception is that Cass County residents will end up paying higher electric bills because of this project. Based on the intent of LB1261, that's not how the legislation is designed. The bill allows a privately owned generation facility to be built alongside a new, large industrial customer to serve that customer's electricity needs. The legislation requires commercial agreements with Nebraska's public power utilities while preserving the utilities' exclusive righ

As conversations continue in Cass County, one question we've heard repeatedly is whether the proposed Tenaska power plant is connected to Lincoln Water 2.0. The short answer is: No. These are two separate projects with different purposes, different timelines, and different legal authorities. Lincoln Water 2.0 Lincoln Water 2.0 is the City of Lincoln's long-term project to develop a second municipal water source by constructing a new Missouri River wellfield, water treatment f

What is LB 1261, and why does it matter to Cass County? As discussions continue about a proposed privately owned power plant in Cass County, you've likely heard the name LB 1261. Here's a factual overview of what it is and why it's being discussed. What is LB 1261? LB 1261 is a Nebraska law passed during the 2026 legislative session. The legislation creates a framework that allows privately owned electric generation facilities to be developed to serve a private industrial cus