Bill > LB526

This bill provides new regulatory powers for public power suppliers (such as public power districts, municipal electric utilities, and other government electric service providers) regarding cryptocurrency mining operations. The bill defines cryptocurrency mining as validating transactions for a blockchain distributed ledger and defines a cryptocurrency mining operation as any facility of one megawatt or larger. It allows public power suppliers to impose requirements on these operations to cover infrastructure upgrade costs, such as requiring direct payment or a letter of credit, and mandates that these requirements be fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory. Before imposing such requirements, suppliers must conduct a load study to determine the specific costs and infrastructure impacts. The bill also requires cryptocurrency mining operations to notify local power suppliers of their intent to install facilities and be subject to interconnection requirements. Additionally, public power suppliers must publicly disclose the number and annual energy usage of cryptocurrency mining operations under their jurisdiction, and these operations must allow suppliers to interrupt their electric service according to established rate schedules and policies. The bill is set to become operative on October 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59369