Guest Column: Governor Pillen should support Dixon County's Energy Project

Dixon County has always been a community defined by its work ethic, resilience, and commitment to progress. Our fields have long been a symbol of productivity — feeding our state and fueling our economy. But today, a new opportunity stands before us: the chance to make Dixon County a leader in Nebraska’s next great wave of economic growth — clean energy.

For too long, our young people have left rural Nebraska in search of better opportunities elsewhere. They leave because we haven’t given them enough reasons to stay — not enough jobs, not enough investment, not enough vision for the future. Clean energy projects, particularly wind power, can change that story. They can help us keep our families here, strengthen our local tax base, and build an economy that’s not just sustainable environmentally, but financially.

Wind energy is no longer a gamble; it’s a proven investment. Across Nebraska and the Midwest, communities that have embraced wind projects are seeing millions in new tax revenue, funding for schools, road improvements, and community development. Farmers are earning steady income from leasing small portions of their land for turbines, diversifying their revenue streams without sacrificing productivity. Local businesses—from construction to maintenance—benefit directly. These projects inject vitality into rural economies while requiring no new government bureaucracy or permanent taxpayer subsidies.

Some will say that wind projects alter our landscapes or that they represent change we don’t need. I understand that sentiment deeply; I’ve spent my life believing in the value of Nebraska’s land and the independence of its people. But leadership requires us to see opportunity where others see risk. We can preserve our values and our environment while positioning ourselves at the forefront of an energy market that’s evolving whether we participate or not. If we don’t welcome these investments, someone else will—and they’ll take the jobs, revenue, and growth with them.

Clean energy aligns with conservative principles: self-reliance, innovation, and stewardship. It reduces dependence on outside markets, strengthens local economies, and uses the resources God gave us—our wind, our ingenuity, our land—responsibly and productively. We don’t need Washington to tell us how to do it; we can do it right here, the Nebraska way.

Supporting new clean energy development in Dixon County isn’t about partisanship—it’s about prosperity. It’s about ensuring that ten, twenty, and fifty years from now, our county is thriving because we had the foresight to invest in industries that last.

The wind is already blowing in our favor. Let’s make sure Dixon County is ready to catch it.

— Keith Kube Former State Legislative Candidate Dixon County, Nebraska