LINCOLN, Nebraska – April 29, 2026 – As Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern prepare to refile their merger application with the Surface Transportation Board on April 30, Matt Williams, Interim President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, today expressed support for the proposal, and the importance of evaluating it for long-term economic competitiveness, system efficiency, and customer outcomes.

“As a Nebraska-based company with deep roots in our state, Union Pacific plays a significant role in supporting jobs, investment, and economic activity across Nebraska,” Williams said. “This proposal builds on that foundation by strengthening the connectivity and performance of the broader national freight network.

“A more seamless, connected rail network has the potential to enhance reliability, reduce friction in the movement of goods, and improve service for businesses that depend on rail,” Williams added. “For many industries, efficient freight movement is a key determinant in where they invest and how they grow.”

The proposed merger would expand single-line service opportunities across a broader national footprint, reducing reliance on interline transfers while opening new routing options that better align with evolving supply chain demands. These changes are expected to improve transit times, increase service flexibility, and expand access to competitive freight options.

“From a business perspective, the priority is a logistics system that delivers consistency, flexibility, and performance,” Williams said. “Enhancements that strengthen connectivity and reliability support growth across manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and other sectors.”

Williams noted that infrastructure proposals of this scale warrant a clear, fact-based review, while recognizing the importance of continued investment in a high-performing national freight system.

“A strong and integrated rail network is foundational to Nebraska and the broader U.S. economy,” Williams said. “This proposal represents a meaningful opportunity to improve service, expand access, and strengthen the system that businesses rely on every day.”
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LINCOLN, Nebraska – April 24, 2026 – The Nebraska Chamber Foundation today released a comprehensive study on the state’s energy use and capacity, highlighting issues to address for Nebraska to become a forward-looking, energy-ready state for the next generation of growth.

Following months of data-collecting, analysis, and stakeholder feedback, the report From Demand to Delivery: Energy, Infrastructure and Powering Nebraska's Growth, highlights the need for utility and economic development partnerships, and the need for a state-level strategy to support energy development. The report was published today following a recent NE Chamber Foundation webinar with Aurora Energy presenting highlights from the study.

“The growing energy needs for Nebraska are an important complex statewide topic for Nebraskans to understand," said Tera Norris, president of the NE Chamber Foundation. “States are competing for new businesses, and access to energy is a primary factor. The report is a comprehensive look at how energy demand has increased, the sophisticated technical and regulatory landscape surrounding it, and a look toward projected needs and hurdles to project development. It gives us essential insight for developing a statewide strategy to spur energy development and grow our great state.”

The report provides dozens of data points and charts showing data demand growth, delivery schemes and interconnectedness across energy sources.
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Four key themes are outlined at the report’s conclusion:
     • State-level stewardship is vital for Nebraska to attract energy investment to facilitate economic development
     • Local permitting presents one of the largest uncertainties and bottlenecks in development, often hindering investment
     • Nebraska has an attractive investment environment, with competitive advantages that help generate interest in developing energy projects
     • Nebraska’s public power model represents a strategic advantage for the state, along with distinct opportunities and responsibilities.

The study was conducted by Aurora Energy Research, a global leader in providing actionable intelligence to navigate and capitalize on the global shift in energy systems, and funded by the NE Chamber Foundation, delivering vital nonpartisan research to help leaders across Nebraska develop data-driven strategies for a more competitive and prosperous future.

Guarav Sen, Market Lead for Southern Power Pool at Aurora Energy Research and co-author of the study, noted that electricity is increasingly a foundational input to economic growth. “Nebraska’s existing assets and public power model provide a strong foundation, but sustained investment in generation and infrastructure will be critical to supporting future development and maintaining reliability as demand continues to rise,” Sen said.

“By convening leadership from entities across the state to commission this report, we have a stakeholder group activated to support energy infrastructure,” Norris said. “This group becomes the backbone of statewide support for energy projects, ensuring Nebraska’s business community and others are shaping the future economy together.”

Matt Williams, interim president of the NE Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said alignment on energy demand and strategies to meet those needs will be the important outcome of the research project.

“States are competing for businesses, which requires state-wide strategy and coordination if Nebraska is going to grow,” Williams said. “An energy engagement playbook for Nebraska will support industry modernization and also require new workforce pipelines to support these jobs and investments. Discussions like those being led by the NE Chamber Foundation are timely and imperative, and engagement is welcome from across the state.”

Nebraskans can read the report and bring their ideas to future conversations and scheduled events during the Go Big Future series, which is underway.
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