Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts visited the Omaha office of Kutak Rock Friday, October 12, 2018 to honor attorney David Bracht for his years of service as Director of the Nebraska Energy Office. Bracht, who rejoined the firm in August, was appointed to the position by the governor in 2015.

Mr. Bracht was a member of the Governor’s cabinet and a key adviser on energy policy and economic development of Nebraska’s energy resources. During his tenure, the state’s solar developments expanded 20-fold, while operating wind farm output dramatically increased and continues to do so. Mr. Bracht also managed the administration of annual grants of $6 million, a revolving energy loan program with $48 million in assets, State Energy Program activities and various energy efficiency and renewable energy grant programs.

Among the grant programs Mr. Bracht managed was the Access Ethanol Nebraska program, which more than doubled the number of fuel dispensers with E-15, E-85 and other high ethanol blends across the state and was funded by a $2.285 million USDA grant and $2.0 million from private and nonprofit sources.

Gov. Ricketts presented Mr. Bracht with a certificate naming him an honorary Admiral of The Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. In part, the governor’s honorific citation states, “And I do strictly charge and require all officers, seamen, tadpoles and goldfish under your command to be obedient to your orders as Admiral.” “I appreciate that the governor spent so much time talking with my fellow Kutak Rock colleagues,” said Mr. Bracht.

This Admiralship is a suitable title as my tenure with the State concludes and I will carry it out with all the seriousness it demands.

Also recognized by the Governor was Kutak Rock attorney Brian Buescher, who was recently nominated for a federal judgeship for the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska.