AEE, CEP Applaud Five Bills Speeding through Nevada Legislature

AEE and CEP Applaud Passage of Bills to Boost
Advanced Energy in Nevada

Five bills speeding through the legislature will spur industry growth by reducing energy waste, studying storage deployment, and revising the state’s resource planning process, business groups say

Carson City, Nev., May 24, 2017 — Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) and its state partner in Nevada, Clean Energy Project (CEP), praised Nevada’s Legislature for promoting policies that make the energy used by all Nevadans more secure, clean, and affordable. Five bills are rapidly approaching the finish line before the session ends June 5: Assembly Bill 223 (energy efficiency program) and Senate Bill 204 (energy storage) have already passed both chambers and are headed to the Governor; Assembly Bill 206 (renewable portfolio standard increase) passed the Assembly today (30-12), and goes on to the Senate; Senate Bill 65 (utility resource planning) awaits expected passage in the Assembly following unnamious Senate support; and a fifth, Senate Bill 150 (energy efficiency) heads for an Assembly vote soon, after passage by the Senate.

“These pieces of legislation supported by both houses of the Assembly will make Nevada a leader nationally for advanced energy,” said J.R. Tolbert, vice president of state policy for Advanced Energy Economy. “By passing these bills, Nevada lawmakers are providing businesses with the long-term certainty they need to spur private investment and expand market opportunities. We now encourage Governor Sandoval, who has been a strong supporter of advanced energy, to sign these bills and allow Nevada to reap the economic gains that come from embracing innovative energy technologies.”

“We applaud the Nevada Legislature for its leadership in passing these bills to drive Nevada’s clean energy future forward. We know that we need to model the core values of the companies we want to attract to the Silver State,” said Jennifer Taylor, executive director of Clean Energy Project. “This suite of policies is an important first step in that direction and will help effectuate Governor Sandoval’s vision for a new Nevada, including the call for our state to be the leading producer and consumer of renewable energy.”

The bills tackle a number of market barriers to expand advanced energy (with links to bill language, sponsors, status, vote counts in AEE PowerSuite*):

• SB 65 (Governor Sandoval’s Office of Energy) on utility Integrated Resource Planning: Serves as a backstop that would allow the PUCN to determine the priority of resources planned to be dispatched and prioritizes resources that reduce energy cost and demand;
• SB 150 (Spearman) Energy Efficiency: Directs the PUCN to establish annual energy efficiency goals that incentivize energy savings through the implementation of cost-effective programs;
• SB 204 (Atkinson) Energy Storage: Expands the opportunity for storage deployment by requiring the PUCN to investigate the need for an energy storage procurement requirement on or before October 1, 2018;
• AB 206 (Brooks) RPS, Would boost Nevada’s advanced energy economy by doubling the state’s renewable requirement from current law (which also includes energy storage following most recent amendments) to secure a 50 percent renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by 2030; and
• AB 223 (McCurdy II) Energy Efficiency: Allows the PUCN to accept an energy efficiency plan that provides economic and societal benefits while directing at least 5% of the spending on efficiency programs specific towards low-income communities.

Votes and action on the bills are as follows: SB 204 passed the Assembly on Monday by a 39-2 margin after receiving unanimous support in the Senate (21-0) on April 24, and is now headed to the Gov.; AB 223 passed both chambers unanimously (Assembly, April 25; Senate, May 19) and is also headed to the Gov.; AB 206 after passage by the Assembly today is headed to the Senate for consideration; SB 65 will head back to the Senate for concurrence following expected Assembly passage before it heads to the Governor (Senate had passed unanimously on April 25); and SB 150 was referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee (after passing the Senate unanimously on April 25) and we anticipate quick action. 

*Note: Links to bill language are accessible via AEE's PowerSuite subscription or trial account. Credentialed press can RSVP to mhanis@aee.net for complimentary permanent account (once you set up trial).

About Advanced Energy Economy
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean and affordable. Advanced energy encompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best available technologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE’s mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. AEE and its State Partner organizations are active in 27 states across the country, representing more than 1,000 organizations in the advanced energy industry. Learn more: http://www.aee.net @AEEnet  

About Clean Energy Project
With deep roots in Nevada’s clean-tech revolution, the Clean Energy Project is Nevada’s premier 501(c)(3) advocacy organization to educate civic, community and business leaders on the importance of smart, forward-looking energy policies that strengthen the State’s economy and improve its environment. CEP is a member of the RenewNV coalition, a partnership of organizations working to build and enhance Nevada’s clean energy economy. Learn more: http://cleanenergyprojectnv.org/. 

Media Contacts
AEE: Monique Hanis, mhanis@aee.net, 202-391-0884
CEP: Jennifer Taylor, jtaylor@cepnv.org, 702-987-4556