During the 17th annual meeting of the Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference, Rich Lombardi, representing the Advanced Power Alliance, presented the organization’s distinguished “American Energy Champion Award” to John Hansen, President of the Nebraska Farmers Union.
Hansen was elected President of the Farmers Union in 1989, and has been re-elected every two-years since then. He serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Legislative Committee for National Farmers Union and on several other of that organization’s national committees. He moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, the state capital, in 1990 to serve in this leadership role, previously operating a diversified grain and livestock operation in Madison County.
Hansen was vocally supportive of renewable energy development from its earliest days in the Cornhusker State, recognizing the opportunity that energy development provided for farmers to diversify their income and to add resilience to their agricultural operations. He has monitored the Nebraska energy economy’s growth and served as a tireless advocate for its development as wind energy has grown from a technological novelty to a key part of the Nebraska’s rural economy and an essential component of America’s energy supply. He has also spoken fiercely on behalf of private property owners and their rights, seeking to ensure that economic opportunities are preserved and protected from government intrusion.
His commitment and hard work have been vital in bringing the voice of agricultural producers into the conversation with electric power generators and the community of other energy industries, and his support and leadership of the Nebraska Wind and Solar conference have been key to that event becoming one of the leading events of its type anywhere in the country. The annual convening brings the energy industry, communities, power customers, agricultural producers, and environmental advocates together to collaborate and to strategize on ways to boost investment and to grow a Nebraska energy economy.
According to the Energy Information Administration, renewable energy provided 32% of Nebraska’s electric power in 2023, with wind energy providing 92% of that total. As of this year, Nebraska had approximately 3,500 megawatts of installed wind power generating capacity across more than 30 projects.
Because Nebraska’s traditional energy resources are so modest (0.03% of the nation’s petroleum reserves and very minor natural gas reserves), the growth of renewable energy in the state has provided all Nebraskans the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the nation’s energy economy. The state can now produce its own energy, keeping consumers’ energy dollars in the state growing and diversifying the economy. By providing cleaner, cheaper, homegrown energy, Nebraska is also made more attractive for investment by other industries including data centers, manufacturers, and other enterprises relying on clean affordable energy. Clean energy now represents the backbone of the Nebraska energy economy.
In announcing the presentation, Lombardi praised Hansen’s tireless work on behalf of farmers and rural communities:
“The Nebraska Farmer’s Union under the direction of their President John Hansen is a force that has shaped Nebraska clean energy policy that has grown to $6,000,000,000 industry in Nebraska.
“No individual or organization has spoken to more people, more times about the rural economic development that will be realized by developing Nebraska’s exquisite natural resources of wind and solar energy. John has made over 600 speeches on wind energy, testified at every clean energy legislation public hearing in the Nebraska Statehouse since 1989, has founded and co-chaired 17 Annual Nebraska Wind and Solar Conferences, has testified in countless county zoning hearings, and has fought for the benefit of all Nebraskans and on behalf of the communities throughout Nebraska.”
A letter from APA President Jeff Clark was presented to Hansen with the award and read,
‘On behalf of the Advanced Power Alliance and our members, I want to congratulate you on being selected to receive our American Energy Champion award for 2024. Your commitment to agriculture and your dedication to the families who rely on agriculture for their livelihood are legendary, respected, and appreciated.
“You have been a fierce advocate for their interests and for improving America’s rural communities and economies. You have boldly taken a stand for private property rights and the economic freedom that should be guaranteed to every landowner in choosing their own economic future. You have eloquently championed the opportunity for agriculture and energy to complement one another, delivering great new opportunities to farmers while delivering the food, fiber, and energy America needs to prosper.
“Your efforts have built a more resilient economy and have enhanced rural communities and their quality of life. Thanks to you, Nebraska is a stronger state, and America is a stronger country. You are an American Energy Champion. We congratulate you and we wish you every continued success.”
Advanced Power Alliance was pleased to honor John Hansen for providing a voice to Nebraska’s rural communities and for helping lead Nebraska’s participation in the energy expansion.
For more information, contact Media@PowerAlliance.org.