State should embrace a clean energy future — even in mining

The unyielding drought threatens to destroy even the hardiest of environments, while also threatening energy and water resources throughout Nevada. This threat is highlighted by the dramatically low water levels at Lake Mead and the accompanying implications for Hoover Dam, which provides an enormous amount of clean energy to Nevada and the surrounding areas.

To avoid an impending catastrophe, we must make critical decisions over the next decade and adapt faster.

Heart of Nature is a company that mines sulfur and other minerals in Tonopah and uses those minerals to create organic growing materials. We recently purchased the town of Cal-nev-ari, approximately 68 miles south of Las Vegas, and plan to expand our operations in this area. Our plans would promote economic development, create jobs and improve the quality of life in Cal-nev-ari and other nearby rural communities. To meet those goals, we plan to use on-site green energy and energy from renewable projects in the area that could offset clean energy reductions resulting from low water levels at Hoover Dam.

Using clean energy resources like wind and solar energy in lieu of the diminished clean energy production from Hoover Dam would also help conserve our limited water resources while fighting climate change. This is especially important because we have the ability to build the right projects in the right location in a manner that minimizes impacts on our environment, so we protect both flora and fauna while improving our communities.

Thanks to new clean manufacturing investments made available through the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), renewable energy projects can access tax credits to support new clean manufacturing facilities, as well as credits that promote wind turbine, solar panel and battery manufacturing. In fact, the IRA is set to bring in an estimated $2.7 billion of investment in large-scale clean power generation and storage to Nevada between now and 2030. These investments will help communities like Cal-nev-ari and others in similar positions meet their energy needs and sustainability goals with clean energy.

Few states are as well positioned as Nevada to invest in more renewable energy infrastructure. I am hopeful that these investments will turn the tide to green-lighting Nevada’s clean energy projects that will responsibly meet our energy needs.