Nevada Voters Could Increase Renewable Energy Mandates This November
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Nevada currently requires that 25% of electricity generation come from renewable sources by 2025, but voters could raise their state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 50% by 2030.
What the Initiative Does
Question 6 would amend the state constitution to increase Nevada’s RPS to reach 50% in 2030. An RPS is a mandate that electric utilities acquire a minimum amount of electricity from renewable energy sources. Renewable sources include solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and hydroelectric.
If this initiative passed, it’d require a second vote in 2020 before becoming law.
Argument in Favor
Raising Nevada’s clean energy requirement will save consumers money on utility bills over the long run, while improving air quality and reducing pollution.
Argument Against
Arizona is already making strides in developing clean energy technology, this proposed constitutional mandate is unnecessary and would raise consumers’ energy bills.
In-Depth
California billionaire and Democratic megadonor Tom Steyer’s NextGen Climate Action proposed, and is financing the campaigns in support of, initiatives to increase RPS in both Nevada and Arizona in 2018. Both these ballot initiatives would raise RPS to 50% by 2030, putting them on par with California’s RPS.
The Sierra Club, Nevada Conservation League, Western Resource Advocates, Center for Biology Diversity, Clean Energy Project, and others support this bill, arguing that it’d mean cleaner air, more jobs, and cheaper energy. In a joint op-ed in the Las Vegas Sun supporters argued it would “reduce the very real health and human costs” associated with fossil fuel dependence and give Nevada a bigger edge in attracting renewable energy investment.
The Coalition of Energy Users, chaired by Nevada State Sen. Don Gustavson (R-14), is leading the campaign opposing Question 6. Question 6’s opponents argue that a constitutional mandate dictating energy policy is unnecessary and risky, arguing that Nevada is better served by a legislative process that “safely adjusts the proportional quantities of Nevada’s power usage” as energy technology advances.
NV Energy, Nevada’s longtime monopoly energy provider, has declined to comment on whether it’d oppose Question 6 if it passes this year, and reaches the ballot in 2020.
There have been past attempts to increase Nevada’s RPS. In June 2017, Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) vetoed a bill that would’ve increased the state’s RPS to 40% by 2030. The bill had passed the Nevada State Legislature with the support of all House and Senate Democrats and three House Republicans. Gov. Sandoval called an increased RPS a commendable idea, but said “its adoption is premature in the face of evolving energy policy in Nevada.”
This initiative made it to the ballot after more than 112,543 valid signatures were submitted by supporters.
Summary by Lorelei Yang
(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / xijian)
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