Nevada's Green Report Card: Did Your Lawmaker Make the Grade?

Alright, so, have you ever really wondered if your elected officials here in Nevada are actually putting their votes where their mouths are when it comes to the environment? Well, for once, we've got a pretty clear answer. The Nevada Conservation League (NCL) has just pulled back the curtain, releasing its 2023 Conservation Scorecard, and honestly, it’s a fascinating, if not sometimes a little frustrating, look at where our state stands.

Think of it as a meticulously compiled report card for our lawmakers, grading them on how they tackled pivotal environmental legislation during the most recent session. And let's be real, these aren't just abstract policies; we're talking about bills that directly impact our air, our water, and yes, even our energy bills.

The League, a non-profit powerhouse dedicated to protecting Nevada's natural treasures, has been at this for a while, holding elected officials accountable. Their scorecard isn't just a list of numbers; it’s a narrative, really, about which lawmakers championed clean energy, sustainable practices, and climate resilience, and which ones, you could say, perhaps dragged their feet. It tracks everything from votes on utility rate hikes to investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, to ambitious — or perhaps, not-so-ambitious — plans to phase out fossil fuels.

One of the big-ticket items on the NCL’s radar was Assembly Bill 197. Now, this one, it was quite the debate. Essentially, it was a proposed utility rate hike that the NCL argued would have stifled energy efficiency efforts and, importantly, made rooftop solar less appealing for everyday Nevadans. And yet, after much discussion and, dare I say, some heated moments, it failed to gain the necessary consensus. A win for environmental advocates, in truth, even if it wasn’t a direct vote for something green, it was a vote against something potentially detrimental.

But it wasn't all about stopping bad bills. Some genuinely progressive legislation made it through. Assembly Bill 220, for example, which sought to inject more energy efficiency into our system, make utility bills a little easier to understand, and set clear energy standards for appliances, was signed into law. And then there was Senate Bill 270, a critical piece of legislation aimed squarely at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles across the state. That, too, made it across the finish line, pushing us further down the road to a cleaner transportation future.

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing. Take Assembly Bill 294; this bill, had it passed, would have given utilities more leeway to own rooftop solar projects, which could have led to higher fees for consumers and, again, stifled individual solar adoption. Thankfully, our governor saw fit to veto that one. And then there's the one that really stings for many environmentalists: Senate Bill 448. This ambitious bill would have mandated NV Energy to draft a plan to replace its fossil fuel power plants with renewable sources. It was a bold step, a truly forward-looking piece of legislation. But, alas, it faltered in the Assembly. A missed opportunity, many would argue.

So, who scored well? Unsurprisingly, Democratic lawmakers generally led the pack. Senate Democrats averaged a remarkable 99%, and Assembly Democrats weren't far behind at 97%. Lawmakers like Senator Dallas Harris and Assemblyman Howard Watts, both from Las Vegas, earned perfect 100% scores. They, it seems, truly walked the talk. On the other side of the aisle, Senate Republicans averaged 39%, while their Assembly counterparts landed at 34%. There were even some, like Senator Ira Hansen from Sparks and Assemblywoman Heidi Kasama from Las Vegas, who scored a stark 0%.

In truth, these scores are more than just numbers; they’re a stark reminder of the choices our lawmakers make, choices that reverberate throughout our communities and across our landscapes. The NCL's message is clear: they’re not just watching; they’re actively pushing for a cleaner, healthier Nevada, and they want us, the constituents, to know exactly where our representatives stand. It's about transparency, accountability, and honestly, a bit of hope for a greener tomorrow.