Governor Jim Pillen-(R)-Nebraska. (Courtesy of Governor's Office)LINCOLN–(KFOR July 20)–An executive order was signed by Governor Jim Pillen on Monday that ends taxpayer subsidies of large-scale data centers in Nebraska, preventing data centers from depending on power built and funded by Nebrask a rate payers. “We just simply believe that we do not need to bring people together by incredible tax incentives,” Pillen said. “We need to make sure that we attract givers not takers, invest people that love the state of Nebraska.” The act will require the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the Department of Water, Energy and Environment to work collaboratively when reviewing project proposals so they can determine whether they are in the best interest of the state.  The Department of Water, Energy, and Environment will be required to create a data center task force. Pillen says the executive order will suspend the award of tax incentives by the state and will stipulate the creation of a task force to propose additional safeguards of the state’s natural resources from data center use. Right now, Nebraska is the only state where 100% of the electricity is provided by publicly owned utilities. In June, Pillen signed LB 1261 to help preserve current energy production in the state. ...read more read less