Each year, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Nebraska Leadership Education Action Development (LEAD) Program selects men and women in agriculture to participate in a leadership-building series. This program aims to identify those who will advocate for Nebraska's farmers and ranchers today and in the future, giving them opportunities to grow in their knowledge and skills. Now on their 42nd class, one recurring feature of the program is national and international visits to sites/businesses of interest.
Earlier this month, LEAD Class 42 took the first of their trips, and NPPD made the must-stop list. On Oct. 1, they attended the Natural Resources, Water and Energy Seminar in Curtis, NE. There, Executive Vice President of Customer Service & External Affairs and Chief Customer Officer Courtney Dentlinger, and Director of Research Alan Dostal, gave an overview of the electrical industry, emerging technologies, and nuclear energy.
As part of his emerging technologies presentation, Alan Dostal focused on NPPD-sponsored research at the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research. He highlighted research opportunities for faculty and students in energy-related research, citing the economic benefits to Nebraska from research on ethanol and its valuable byproducts. He added that since its inception, the Energy Center had brought more than $100 million of additional research funding from federal programs and private industry to Nebraska.
In addition to the stop in Curtis, the next day, the LEAD group made stops at NPPD’s North Platte Hydro and Gerald Gentleman Station. LEAD Class 42 also plans to tour NPPD’s Cooper Nuclear Station in February.