(Gov. Steve Sisolak, at the podium, speaks before signing SB 358 into law. To Sisolak’s right are Senator Chris Brooks and Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson.)
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak doubled Nevada’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) this week by signing Senate Bill 358, which requires energy generated and used in Nevada to come from at least 50% clean energy sources by 2030, up from 25% by 2025 (previous state law).
By signing the bill, Sisolak fulfilled one of his central campaign promises and responded to a ballot question last November in which Nevada voters overwhelmingly supported a stronger RPS. The new law positions the state to maintain the fastest job growth in the country for clean energy like solar, geothermal and wind.
The growth of Nevada’s clean energy economy helped SB358, sponsored by Senator Chris Brooks, pass through the state Senate and Assembly without a single “no” vote. The legislation also had support from a broad coalition of businesses, local chambers of commerce, labor unions and community groups.
In June 2018, NV Energy contracted for more than 1 gigawatt of new renewable energy resources to be built in Nevada, which the utility says is the largest clean energy investment in the state’s history. The resource plan filing requires PUC approval, and is contingent on a statewide ballot question to open the electric energy market.
The plan calls for six solar energy projects and three related battery-energy storage resources with 100 megawatts of capacity. If everything moves forward, the projects should be completed and serving customers by the end of 2021, NV Energy says.
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