Increasing State Agency Efficiency...

Nebraska Energy Office Merges With Department of Environmental Quality

LINCOLN – Governor Pete Ricketts recently signed a bill to streamline and improve the operations of two state agencies.

Nebraska Governor Ricketts

Gov. Ricketts signs LB 302 creating the Department of Environment and Energy

The new agency, named the Department of Environment and Energy, will be under the direction of Jim Macy. Macy presently serves as the Director of Environmental Quality and Interim Director of the Nebraska Energy Office.

“As with the mergers that created our Transportation and Veterans agencies in 2017, this merger will make our state government work more effectively and more efficiently,” said Governor Ricketts. “The new Department of Environment and Energy will allow the state to form a more unified vision and strategic plan for our work in these related areas.”

Combining Efforts to Serve Nebraskans

“The two agencies currently have a number of related functions and similar services which will be enhanced for Nebraskans by combining efforts,” said Director Macy (left). “Thank you to the Legislature for supporting our work.”

"Over the past few months our agencies have collaborated on a number of efforts — flood response and recovery, loans at 1% interest and free weatherization services for low-income Nebraskans." Macy said, "From an administrative point of view we have identified strengths in one agency that will benefit the other, such as the Dollar and Energy Saving Loan program and the Link Deposit program. We look forward to bringing our agencies together to the benefit of all Nebraskans."




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The Nebraska Energy Quarterly is funded, in part, by the U.S. Department of Energy through the State Energy Program