Gov. Heineman Announces
Neil Moseman to Head Nebraska Energy Office

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman has named Neil Moseman to serve as director of the Nebraska Energy Office. He will begin on July 1.

Moseman, 47, has served as assistant director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) since December, 2006. In addition to his duties with the department, he has served as a policy advisor on agriculture, natural resources and environmental issues in the Governor’s Policy Research Office for the past several months.

“Neil’s experience on agriculture policy and energy issues at both the state and federal level will be a great asset as we move forward,” Gov. Heineman said. “I respect Neil’s experience, leadership, and enthusiasm for this challenge.” 

 The Energy Office was created in the 1977 to promote the efficient, economic and environmentally responsible use of energy in Nebraska. Since 1991, the office has been part of the Governor’s Policy Research Office, which is a division of the Governor’s Office. With the decision to appoint a separate director, the Nebraska Energy Office will now be run as a stand-alone agency within state government with the director serving as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet.

The office advises state leaders on energy policy issues and manages several programs, including dispersing federal Department of Energy grants and funds as well as partnering with lending institutions to provide low-interest loans for energy upgrades and improvements to homes, buildings and transportation infrastructure. It also provides support for the state’s wind energy work group and national advocacy organizations such as the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition and the Governors’ Public Power Alliance.

Gov. Heineman said, “A cabinet-level Nebraska Energy Office presents an opportunity to take our energy efforts to the next level. Nebraska is a leader in energy production and conservation thanks to the gains we’ve made in ethanol production, and new investments being made wind energy and biodiesel production.”

Moseman has more than 10 years of experience dealing with agriculture, energy and trade issues at the federal level. In 1989, he joined the staff for the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture where he worked for eight years and spent two years as agriculture director for U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel before returning to Nebraska.

Prior to joining NDA, Moseman was a business manager for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), a global information systems company with operations in Nebraska. From 1999 to 2003, he was vice president of the U.S. Beet Sugar Association in Washington.

Moseman said, “I look forward to serving in this new capacity. Nebraska is ahead of the curve in terms of renewable energy and we are fortunate to have wide support for further development. Better conservation, continued research and stronger partnerships will be key to maintaining our edge and helping define an energy policy for the 21st century for our state and nation.”

He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics in 1983 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and went on to serve four years in the U.S. Navy.

Moseman’s salary will be $85,000.

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