Opinion: We should protect Nevada’s clean energy future

Across Nevada, new clean energy projects have already spurred $15.5 billion in investment from businesses, the eighth-highest in the nation, and created or moved forward 21,703 good-paying clean energy jobs, the sixth-most in the country. 

Clean energy is creating jobs and cost savings for Nevadans and Americans across the country. As the leader of Northern Nevada’s Building & Construction Trades Council, I know firsthand how important clean energy is to making our economy work for all Americans. If we want to build back American manufacturing and keep our competitive edge, we need to invest in the energy of the future. Efforts in Washington to repeal clean energy investments would take us in exactly the wrong direction. 

Unfortunately, that’s what the latest budget bill passed by House Republicans could do. Their Budget Chairman says those investments should be “low-hanging fruit” to pay for new tax cuts geared toward the wealthy.

The thing is, it’s not just about jobs. Too many Americans are struggling under the weight of high energy costs, with more than a quarter of U.S. households unable to afford their energy bills. More than three-quarters of households say they’re stressed about their energy payments. Clean energy investments are already saving Americans make-or-break money on their electricity bills. By 2030, these investments will save the average American taxpayer an estimated $1,000 a year in energy costs.

Something has to change, which is why I’ve been so supportive of investments in clean energy at the federal level and in the private sector over the past few years. This money is fueling a clean energy economic boom in Nevada and across the country—a boom that will be jeopardized if these investments and tax credits get repealed this year. 

Clean energy like wind, solar, and electric vehicles are now a critical part of the American economy, creating jobs that often don’t require a four-year degree. Since new clean energy incentives were signed into law in August 2022, companies have announced or advanced 751 new clean energy projects, creating 406,007 new jobs and driving $422 billion in new investments across 48 states and Puerto Rico. 

Across Nevada, new clean energy projects have already spurred $15.5 billion in investment from businesses, the eighth-highest in the nation, and created or moved forward 21,703 good-paying clean energy jobs, the sixth-most in the country. 

Here in Nevada, over $5 billion in federal funds are being invested in our clean energy future. The Nevada Clean Energy Fund’s Solar for All initiative received $156 million in federal funds to help Nevada households access solar and reduce their energy costs. NSFA provides financial and technical assistance to rooftop solar and community solar projects that benefit low-income households (including renters). 

These jobs and investment dollars are split fairly evenly between Republican and Democratic districts—so Americans are benefiting everywhere. Since the passage of these clean energy investments, private companies have announced 405 projects totaling $204.7 billion in investment and 216,322 new jobs in 152 districts represented by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge the importance of these investments. In August 2024, 18 Republican members of Congress, including Representative Mark Amodei, wrote a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson in support of the clean energy tax credits that have brought direct benefits to many of their districts. 

“Energy tax credits have spurred innovation, incentivized investment, and created good jobs in many parts of the country – including many districts represented by members of our conference,” they wrote in their letter.

Rep. Amodei would know – his district has the most investments of any Republican in Congress, a staggering $11.2 billion leading to 14,960 jobs announced already. If he tells his leadership to leave Nevada jobs alone, we can keep moving our state forward.

Repealing or gutting the federal investments that are propelling the United States to the forefront of the clean energy competition would set our country back and threaten the livelihoods of the millions of Americans who work in clean energy. 

Clean energy incentives will lower energy costs, according to utility CEOs. Tax advantages make it affordable for utilities to directly own and operate solar power facilities, passing savings onto customers. Clean energy tax credits also allow utilities to lower costs for consumers. For example, Duke Energy will cut residential energy rates in Florida because of retroactive tax credits from national clean energy investments.

If the clean energy investments are repealed, consumers could see monthly household energy bills rise by an average of 10%.

The 2022 clean energy plan supports unions like mine, making sure that American workers don’t get left behind. Under the clean energy plan, projects that pay prevailing wages and hire registered apprentices to work on clean energy projects will receive a fivefold increase in clean energy deployment tax credits.

An August 2024 report from the Climate Jobs National Resource Center identified more than 6,000 utility-scale clean energy projects planned, under construction, or already operating that could be eligible for the clean energy plan’s labor standards tax credits. Combined, these projects represent a potential 3.9 million jobs, over $2 trillion in investment, and over 1 million megawatts of clean power. 

Investing in clean energy isn’t about getting rid of manufacturing or construction jobs—in fact, it’s about creating more of these jobs. Clean energy is a cost of living and economic issue. Repealing clean energy investments would be bad for American businesses and bad for American workers. Preserving America’s competitive edge in clean energy is essential for ensuring an economically prosperous future, and Nevada can continue leading the way if we protect our investments.