From the Lincoln Journal Star:
In carefully crafted language, a legislative study committee on Wednesday sounded an alert, rather than an alarm, about climate change and set the stage for continuing engagement by the Legislature.
The study committee recommended that the 2017 Legislature establish a climate planning committee to “create an evidence-based, data-driven climate action plan” for the state.
Sen. Ken Haar of Malcolm suggested there are “a lot opportunities ahead for Nebraska in wind, solar and biofuels.”
And Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill said the Legislature should be able to develop “policies that work for both sides” of the political debate with a focus on the potential for economic growth.
Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha said senators decided to address this “very contentious subject in the Legislature” by approving the initial study by an interim committee co-chaired by a conservative Republican (Larson) and a progressive Democrat (Haar).
And at Wednesday’s news conference in the Capitol Rotunda, Larson said he will introduce a resolution during the 2017 legislative session to authorize creation of the proposed climate planning committee with establishment of guidelines.
That, Mello said, will “continue the process and continue to use an evidence-based approach.”
“We compromised,” Haar said, in reaching the agreement to move forward. “We focused on opportunities for Nebraska.”