State won big with congressional action, but that must be a starting point

Here in Las Vegas, we know firsthand the devastating impacts that the climate crisis have on our city, state and nation. From extreme heat to droughts to worsening air pollution, the threat of climate change is clear, and without action, Nevada will only see more frequent and severe climate change-driven extreme weather.

In the Nevada Legislature, I have fought for climate action as chair of the Senate Growth and Infrastructure Committee by advancing clean-energy solutions that will cut carbon pollution and save Nevadans on their utility bills in the process. As Nevadans face record-breaking drought and rising energy costs, I know that addressing the climate crisis must remain a priority for leaders like me in Carson City and those in Washington, D.C.

At the federal level, the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are important steps forward for climate action by making unprecedented climate and clean-energy investments in our communities. Thanks to the leadership of climate champions in Congress and the president, these new laws will combat climate change, lower energy costs for our residents, improve the energy efficiency of our homes, and provide billions for drought resilience in states like Nevada.

The consumer tax credits included in the Inflation Reduction Act will help to make homes more energy-efficient by enhancing the affordability of heat pumps, rooftop solar, electric HVAC, water heaters and electric appliances. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will also reduce energy costs for families and will make communities more resilient against climate change. In total, families in our state could save between $300 and $1,800 in annual energy costs.

Nevadans stand to benefit greatly from investments in clean vehicles, including cars, trucks and school buses. The Inflation Reduction Act includes a new consumer tax credit of up to $4,000 for middle- and lower-income people to buy used clean vehicles, and up to $7,500 tax credit to buy new clean vehicles. The bill also invests $1 billion for clean heavy-duty trucks such as school buses and city fleets, of which $400 million is reserved for communities that have been traditionally overburdened by air pollution. Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Nevadans will receive historic investments in electric vehicle charging networks and other transportation programs to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles and slash pollution from Nevada’s roads.

These bills go beyond climate resiliency and consumer savings. They also create good-paying jobs. A 2020 report found that investments similar to those found in the Inflation Reduction Act would add almost 40,000 clean-energy jobs in Nevada over five years. Nationally, these investments could create up to 1.5 million jobs in 2030 and nearly 9 million over the next decade. We know that many residents want access to clean-energy jobs, and we want strong government action around renewable energy like wind and solar.

It is great to celebrate that Congress has taken long-overdue climate action thanks to the tireless work of Nevada’s senators, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and Reps Steven Horsford, Susie Lee and Dina Titus.

It is equally important to recognize that our community members, especially those in frontline environmental justice communities, still need and deserve more. At the state and federal levels, we must ensure that the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act does not negatively affect the health and well-being of our communities. We must also invest in environmental justice to ensure that the neighborhoods most affected by pollution receive the support needed for daily healthy living.

While these bills are estimated to slash climate pollution in the U.S. by an estimated 40% by the end of the decade, President Joe Biden must take further action to follow through on his commitment to cut climate pollution in half by 2030. Federal agencies must implement solutions that will clean up sources of pollution such as cars, trucks, power plants and other industrial sources.

I am pleased with the progress our nation has made in addressing the climate emergency for our communities. However, the work for clean air, bold climate action and environmental justice for all continues, and further climate solutions from Nevada’s leaders, Congress and the Biden administration are vital for our future.