Welcome from Mayor Suttle

Energy plays an important part in the everyday lives of the citizens of Omaha. We need energy to light, heat, and cool our homes and businesses; manufacture goods and provide services; and fuel the City's transportation system. The community depends on reliable, consistent, and cost-effective sources and uses of energy.

Yet in the face of these basic energy needs, Omaha, the nation, and the world are facing critical energy challenges now and in the coming years, including unpredictability in the supply of fossil fuels from overseas, air pollution, and price swings. As a result, finding ways to conserve energy and use it more efficiently - as well as tap other sources of locally produced and cleaner energy - will be increasingly important in the years to come.

Omaha's citizens made it clear they view energy efficiency and renewable energy quite positively and are willing to invest time and resources toward long-term solutions. Omaha's 2011 Comprehensive Energy Management Plan (CEMP) is the first plan for the City of Omaha to specifically address these energy opportunities and challenges. Funded by the US Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, the CEMP provides the framework and implementation strategy for effectively managing the City's use and supply of energy, now and into the future.

As an economic, cultural, and political hub of Nebraska and the Midwest, Omaha has and continues to experience healthy economic growth even in the face of a national economic downturn. By managing our energy and using it efficiently as well as developing more local energy sources, we can secure more energy independence for Omaha, drive down energy costs and keep our businesses competitive, and help citizens save on energy costs. Meeting these challenges responsibly is at the heart of the City's desire to maintain a high quality of life for its citizens.