New Laws Help NV Reach Clean-Energy Goals, Limit Air Pollution
Alex Gonzalez, Producer
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Some Nevada laws going into effect this year aim to move the state's clean-energy goals forward and help reduce air pollution.
Senate bill 448 aims to advance Nevada's goals of reaching 100% carbon-free energy by 2050. One of the provisions of that bill will also provide more charging stations for electric cars in lower-income neighborhoods.
Assembly bill 349 is a law that helped close the classic car loophole, that allowed some to get away with not doing annual smog checks on their older but non-classic cars.
Angelyn Tabalba, communications director for the Nevada Conservation League, said it comes down to being a health priority for Nevadans.
"The thing with these older vehicles is that they are not as energy efficient," said Tabalba, "and they can put out nine to 18 times as much smog pollution as newer vehicles can."
According to a recent report from the American Lung Association, a transition to zero-emission trucks between 2020 and 2050 would benefit Clark County with an estimated $4.9 billion in public health benefits due to cleaner air - one of which would result in close to 10,000 fewer asthma attacks.
These Nevada state laws follow a directive by the Environmental Protection Agency which at the end of 2022 set out a rule to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 80% than the previous rule.
Executive Director for the Nevada Conservation League Paul Selberg said they are geared up for Nevada's next legislative session, set to start in a couple of weeks, and are looking to continue prioritizing Nevada's clean, renewable-energy portfolio.
"The transportation sector of Nevada is the largest greenhouse gas emitting sector in our state," said Selberg. "So anything we can do to help reduce smog, greenhouse-gas emissions, pollution in general, benefits our state."
Selberg said he hopes Nevada is able to keep its reputation as an incubator for investing, growing and expanding renewable energy across all sectors, and would like to see continued bipartisan support for further investment in protecting the environment.
get more stories like this via email
Health and Wellness
A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …
Social Issues
Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …
Social Issues
Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…
Social Issues
A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …
Social Issues
Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …
Social Issues
Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…