Horsford: We Must Take Bold Action to Begin Rebuilding Our Economy from the Ground Up
Source: Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford
May 1, 2009 - 3:00:29 PM
Senate Energy, Infrastructure, and Transportation hears testimony on the
Initiative for a New Energy Economy
(Carson City) – Today, the Senate Energy, Infrastructure, and Transportation committee heard testimony on the Initiative for a New Energy Economy, proposed as an amendment to Senate Bill 358, by Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford. The legislation aims to attract and retain large-scale renewable industries, expand access and affordability of renewable industry for small business and homeowners, and create a streamlined regulatory infrastructure to support Nevada’s New Energy Economy.
“It is incumbent upon us as legislators to take some bold action to begin rebuilding our economy from the ground up, if we are to achieve our goal of a diversified, sustainable economy that provides good jobs and adequate revenues to support vital state services such as education,” said Senator Horsford. “With this legislation, I am hoping we will take a step in that direction, by charting how we can take advantage of Nevada’s solar, wind and geothermal resources to build a New Energy Economy.”
The Initiative for a New Energy Economy includes the following elements:
Creating a Clear, Streamlined and Centralized Regulatory Structure: The Office of Energy would transfer to the governor’s office to the Nevada Public Utilities Commission, creating a new “Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Authority” within the PUC devoted to the smart development of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
Structure of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Authority: The authority would be headed by a state energy commissioner, who would be advised by two panels, one composed of state and local officials involved in energy issues and a second composed of representatives of the renewable industry, Nevada contractors and Nevada trade organizations. Each of the panels will have areas of knowledge and expertise that will allow the energy commissioner to make informed recommendations to the PUC on how to best move forward with the state’s strategic plans for renewable and efficient energy.
Maximizing Federal Dollars for Nevada’s benefit: The centralization of the new authority would help channel federal funds to ensure Nevada meets its goal of establishing itself as the renewable energy capital of the West. The Authority would enable strategic allocation of our resources to assure Nevada qualifies for grants and puts the money toward programs that maximize our benefit. This includes not only Stimulus money, but also includes planning surrounding Federal construction of energy transmission infrastructure.
Attracting Large-Scale Renewable Energy Development: The Initiative for a New Energy Economy creates incentives for large-scale renewable industry to choose Nevada. To create incentives for renewable energy development in Nevada, this amendment would establish a system of targeted and balanced tax abatements, creating long-term sales and property tax abatements while ensuring education receives new revenue from this development. The Initiative also would make sure Nevadans are employed on these projects, and require that the state Contractors’ Board develop certification programs for renewable and energy efficiency workers to help develop this new workforce. Renewable developers would be required to make best efforts to hire these trained, qualified Nevadans.
Expanding Access and Affordability: The Initiative for a New Energy Economy makes renewable energy affordable and more accessible for small business and Nevada home-owners. The initiative would establish new incentives for home- and business-based renewable energy systems such as rooftop photovoltaic systems. This is called “distributed generation.” Small-scale installations at many locations each produce a little electricity, collectively producing as much as a large-scale facility.
Estimates based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s job and economic impact model indicate that 2,000 megawatts of large-scale solar development would create nearly 6,000 jobs per year over a 6-year build-out, and 1,200 permanent operations and maintenance jobs. Projected median annual wages in this new economy would be in the range of $51,000 to $58,000.
“As the national demand for renewable energy grows, more states will look beyond their borders for reliable sources of clean energy. By enacting the Initiative for a New Energy Economy, Nevada can be positioned to export its abundant clean energy, and we can continue to create new jobs and revenues for a sustainable future,” said Horsford.
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