The Plan

Collaboration is critical between government, businesses, and communities. Since more than 80 percent of the state is federally controlled, collaboration with the federal government is imperative for energy and environmental resilience. As Nevada seeks to expand the Lithium Loop and critical mineral production, Nevada, as well as the United States, need close partnerships between all levels of government. Recent federal actions have taken some critical mineral opportunities off the table. For instance, critical mineral deposits discovered in Southern Nevada are greater than those found at the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California which currently produces over 15 percent of the world’s rare-earth minerals. Unfortunately, national monument designations and other federal government actions have locked off some of those assets in Nevada, depriving Nevadans of economic opportunities for business development and therefore upward mobility.

If the Federal Government desires to develop critical mineral assets domestically to reduce reliance on foreign production, which may cede control over those resources and not align ideologically with national interest, they must allow for responsible critical mineral production and refinement.  Failure to do so may represent a matter of national security, limits economic development in Nevada, and creates environmental concerns. Nevada will continue to seek congressional support to deal with resilience efforts.

Mitigation strategies that promote sustainable energy sources and energy efficiency measures are critical. However, this is not an all or nothing approach; Nevada can't persist with the mentality that everything must transition to sustainable energy overnight. Instead, we need to explore technologies that maintain energy reliability while also potentially decreasing emissions from current levels over a sensible timeframe. This will reduce emissions without reducing energy choices for the citizens of the State. Nevada is working on diversifying its energy portfolio to ensure access to reliable, resilient, affordable clean energy for its residents and businesses. The Silver State must pursue a balanced, all-of-the-above approach to energy use and development by utilizing all available energy and storage resources. This approach includes natural gas, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, hydrogen, energy efficiency and energy storage projects.

Another aspect of mitigation is related to the reliability and security of the energy grid by the modernization of the state's energy infrastructure. Strengthening these transmission and distribution systems will help the state mitigate impacts of environmental concerns while also increasing reliability, resulting in cleaner and more consistent energy for Nevadans. Governor Lombardo’s Executive Order 2023-007 (established Nevada's energy policy) encapsulates these principles. This approach will meet environmental objectives while keeping costs low for Nevadans, with the undeniable effects of inflation occurring across the nation, we must be mindful of cost.

Innovative free market solutions that grow the number of jobs in Nevada is a top priority for Governor Lombardo’s Administration and is an important aspect of this energy plan. Nevada should promote the next generation of high-paying employment opportunities for its residents across various sectors, including established industries like healthcare, gaming, manufacturing, and data centers, as well as in mining critical minerals like lithium, battery production, and battery recycling within the Silver State. Amidst escalating energy expenses in Europe and U.S. corporations endeavor to disentangle from China, Nevada aims to position itself as an attractive location for relocating energy production back to the United States.

Nevada boasts remarkable resources that significantly contribute to its economy. The State should continue to expand its energy infrastructure surrounding  essential materials, natural gas, or next-generation technologies such as enhanced geothermal, instead of relying on foreign nations. Nevada contains many critical minerals that are crucial to energy production and are produced in a manner that promotes stewardship of the land. According to the U.S. Department of Interior, no state does it better than Nevada. The number of initiatives for training a skilled workforce in resilient technologies is tremendous, and partnerships with targeted educational institutions, such as Great Basin College and the University of Nevada Reno, and trade organizations focused in these areas will spur greater workforce development.

Nevada must incorporate and support research initiatives on clean, reliable energy production and encourage innovation in technological solutions. Universities big and small across the state have coursework included in their curriculum, in fields like agriculture, engineering, environmental science, and mining, to enhance and develop a local workforce. Moreover, the state enjoys valuable partnerships, exemplified by the Desert Research Institute. Established in 1959 as a nonprofit research institution of the Nevada System of Higher Education, it currently operates campuses in both the North and South regions. Furthering these educational collaborations will help Nevada further resiliency efforts.

Regulatory certainty for Nevadans is a must as it relates to promoting innovation and investment into sustainable technologies. Unfortunately, current federal energy permitting, and regulatory systems are unnecessarily burdensome, outdated, and lack transparency. Nevada’s Climate Innovation Plan will foster resilient market-based solutions that will move the state forward and attract new industries at a faster pace than states that are driven by regulation. Governor Lombardo’s Executive Order 2023-003 (temporary freeze on regulations) is paving the way for regulatory and permitting reform. This reform is intended to facilitate the use of our natural resources while ensuring their protection. After subsequently signing Executive Order 2023-008, rescinding the regulatory freeze, the state is now diligently reviewing and implementing the recommendations stemming from that process by repealing or improving upon burdensome and outdated regulations.

Community engagement will enable Nevada to empower local communities and tribes to act on environmental resilience, giving them a voice in the process through stakeholder meetings already held as part of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG). The CPRG has a component that helps individual communities and tribes engage in the process. The Low Income and Disadvantaged Community (LIDAC) analysis will assist these communities in accessing the advantages of environmental resilience. Additionally, Washoe and Clark counties have their own air quality agencies and programs to address and monitor air quality issues. The engagement process typically includes public meetings, workshops, and forums designed to educate the community about the importance of pollution reduction. These events also serve as platforms for Nevadans to voice their concerns, offer suggestions, and participate in decision-making processes. The State strives to collaborate with these local partners to keep constituents and industry partners involved in a meaningful way.

When it comes to resilience, Nevada’s farmers and ranchers have been engaged in these efforts for decades. For instance, through practices like carbon farming, where agriculture facilitates the sequestration of carbon in the soil, land management allows the soil to absorb and retain more carbon. Conservation districts are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service on utilizing no-till technologies on private and public lands. Combined with rotational grazing and crop practices, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is stored in the soil. The state is grateful for the private agriculture sector’s work in this space and looks forward to their continued resilience strategies.

More than 80 percent of Nevada is public land, so proper rangeland management is crucial for supporting the State’s economic interests, safeguarding communities from wildfire threat, and sustaining its wildlife populations. Proper rangeland management in Nevada prioritizes wildfire prevention, habitat restoration, responsible recreation, and economic benefits, ensuring public lands thrive for future generations. Wildfire prevention strategies such as strategic grazing, controlled burns, and invasive species removal mitigate wildfire hazards, safeguarding communities, numerous economic pillars in Nevada, wildlife habitats, and recreational spaces. Habitat restoration efforts, such as reseeding native plants and rehabilitating degraded areas, bolster biodiversity and foster resilient wildlife species. Nevada's economy depends on effective rangeland management practices to sustain ranching, mining, and tourism industries, fostering economic expansion and employment opportunities while conserving the land. Effective management requires collaboration among federal, state, local agencies, private landowners, and stakeholders. Stewardship is a shared responsibility and is essential for maintaining healthy and productive public lands.