Utility Dive reports on the passing of a bill that may undermine Nevada's transition to more affordable and accessible clean energies, quoting Sarah Steinberg on how the legislation could jeopardize the state’s regional clean energy leadership.

Clean energy advocates and conservation groups say AB 524 makes significant improvements to the state’s IRP process — and if NV Energy can build new resources at the lowest cost, then so be it.

“If that makes sense for Nevadans, sure. But it needs to go through the IRP process,” said Christi Cabrera-Georgeson, deputy director of the Nevada Conservation League.

NV Energy last year proposed a 400 MW gas peaker plant through an IRP amendment. It was approved in March, but opponents say the process did not allow for sufficient public input or review. 

“We saw a lot of people say, during the bill hearing, ‘this is exactly why we need this bill,’” Cabrera-Georgeson said. Changes to the IRP process will ensure regulators are “hearing from stakeholders, looking at what matters to Nevada,” and the law closes “loopholes” such as allowing a large gas plant to be approved in an IRP amendment, she said.

There will be some additional burden associated with more frequent IRPs but the tradeoff benefits consumers, said Hunter Holman, Nevada clean energy manager for Western Resource Advocates.

The PUCN has not frequently approved utility-owned renewables because NV Energy can often contract with independent power producers at a lower cost, according to Advanced Energy United and Interwest Energy Alliance.

“What Nevada needs most is fair, regular, predictable competitive solicitations for energy resources so that developers can offer the state their best and most innovative projects,” Sam Johnston, policy manager at Interwest, said in a statement. “The more project options that are on the table, the easier it is for the commission to find the mix that guarantees most reliable service at lowest cost to Nevadans.”

“Enabling NV Energy to preference utility-owned resources without the guardrails afforded by truly competitive solicitations ultimately undermines the state’s goal for affordable, clean energy,” said Sarah Steinberg, policy director at Advanced Energy United. “It may put private investment, and the state’s regional clean energy leadership, at risk.”

Read the full article here.