John --

Yesterday, Omahans showed up in force to demand the board members of the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) keep their promise to the community of North Omaha and shutter its polluting coal plant.

We delivered passionate testimony about the negative health impacts the North Omaha community continues to suffer as OPPD burns dirty coal, as well as a petition from 2,500+ Omahans, but despite all our efforts -- the OPPD Board voted 6-2 to break its promise, and delay the coal plant shutdown.

We lost last night. The families of North Omaha lost. The day care that has to clean coal ash off their windows and off playground equipment lost. The kids who have to play football 5 feet from the coal plant lost.

Data centers won. Attorney General Hilgers' bullying lawsuit filled with junk science won.

But the fight is not over. To all the community advocates who turned out and made their voices heard -- thank you for your actions and words and heart!

Bold's next steps:

1. Hold the OPPD board accountable for the resolution they passed last night. We deeply believe North Omaha should not have to keep shouldering this pollution. Write and tell OPPD board members you are unhappy with their resolution vote, and you want the coal plant shut down NOW.

2. We must build more Nebraskan energy that protects the land, air and water with the community at the table, so what's happening to North Omaha doesn't keep happening all over the state. We want the energy union built. We don't want eminent domain used. We want transparent community benefits and dividends agreements. We are done with back-door deals. We are a "public power" state. We need to start acting like it.

3. We all know the coal plant is staying open because of data center energy needs. We need regulations at the state and county level to deal with the energy, land use, decommissioning, water and so many other impacts data centers have on our state and the great people who live here.

In the new year, Bold will continue holding town halls to ensure everyone is at the table, as the community develops its plan of action.

Thanks for standing with us.

Terrell McKinney
Land Justice Director, Bold Alliance

Jane Kleeb
Founder & Executive Director, Bold Alliance

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Bold Nebraska
P.O. Box 254
Hastings, NE 68902 US