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NEVADA CONSERVATION LEAGUE IN THE NEWS
Public News Service | New Laws Help NV Reach Clean-Energy Goals, Limit Air Pollution
January 12, 2023
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.”
NEVADA NEWS
ENERGY
Reuters | U.S. to lend ioneer $700 million for Nevada lithium mine
January 13, 2023
The U.S. Energy Department said on Friday it will lend ioneer Ltd (INR.AX), up to $700 million to build its Rhyolite Ridge lithium mining project in Nevada, a major step forward in President Joe Biden’s plan to develop a domestic electric vehicle supply chain.
AP | Burning Man latest foe of ‘green energy’ project in Nevada
January 12, 2023
Lithium mines aimed at boosting production of electric vehicle batteries and geothermal power plants that tap underground water to produce renewable energy are at various stages of planning and development in the nation’s top gold mining state.
Environmental groups, Native American tribes and ranchers are among those who’ve filed lawsuits over the past two years seeking to block individual projects.
RTO Insider | NV Energy Blames ‘Heavy Wet Snow’ for New Year’s Outages
January 12, 2023
A report from NV Energy finds heavy, wet snow downed wires, broke poles and damaged transformers in Nevada, leaving almost 124,000 customers without power over the New Year’s holiday.
Las Vegas Review Journal | EDITORIAL: Fight over gas stoves is just heating up
January 14, 2023
[Do not share. The Review Journal staff writes that concerns over the use of natural gas stoves are “laughable” and urges the idea that power from official fuels and nuclear power is needed. Sharing this for awareness.] Federal bureaucrats aren’t the only ones looking to ban gas stoves. Plenty of state and local officials want to do just that, including here in Nevada.
Las Vegas Sun | Electric vehicle demand high, inventory low, tax credits confusing in Las Vegas
January 15, 2023
[This article is included for coalition awareness. The piece highlights the lack of EV availability and confusion centered around EV tax credits.] Bill Bosnos is slowly starting to see more electric cars roll off the Friendly Ford dealership lot in Las Vegas driven by consumers eager to cut down on gasoline spending. Some of these motorists may be missing out on federal tax credits made available beginning Jan. 1 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The act, which was signed into law last August by President Joe Biden to combat inflation and invest in clean energy, includes credits for consumers who purchase electric cars, solar panels and heat pumps.
Las Vegas Sun | Gas stoves are new culture war
January 18, 2023
[Please review these talking points about gas stoves and asthma before sharing this letter or similar opinions.] (Letter) Conservatives use every opportunity to turn a liberal idea into an overt Democrat attack on civil liberties. An example is the recent suggestion that if you want to help with climate change, you should consider an electric stove rather than one fueled by gas. As the burning of gas creates a larger carbon footprint than the use of an electric heating source, the idea makes sense. Conservatives, never missing an opportunity to stir up their base, have created the Gas Stove Gestapo that will soon be banging on your door demanding your favorite kitchen appliance.
Technology Review | How old batteries will help power tomorrow’s EVs
January 17, 2023
To Redwood Materials, the rows of cardboard boxes in its gravel parking lot represent both the past and the future of electric vehicles. The makeshift storage space stretches for over 10 acres at Redwood’s new battery recycling site just outside Reno, Nevada. Most of the boxes are about the size of a washing machine and are wrapped in white plastic. But some lie open, revealing their contents: wirelesss keyboards, discarded toys, chunks of used Honda Civic batteries.
WATER
Nevada Independent | Nevada outlines framework for Colorado River cuts as states show their cards
January 12, 2023
The new round of negotiations come as the federal government prepares to take unprecedented administrative action on the Colorado River. In November, federal water managers issued a formal notice that they planned to analyze options to update the river’s operating rules, agreed upon in 2007, to meet the severe shortage conditions facing the watershed.
Newsweek | What Will Happen to Las Vegas if Lake Mead Water Level Gets Too Low?
January 16, 2023
Dr. Joellen Russell, a climate scientist and professor at the University of Arizona, told Newsweek: “Lake Mead and Hoover Dam are about 100 to 150 feet from ‘dead pool’ conditions, at which point neither water nor electricity will flow from the dam. At its peak, Hoover Dam generated a significant part of the electricity for almost 30 million people, and production has already dropped by a third. Dead pool conditions would mean the end of all electric production, as well as water, from the Colorado River.”
My News 4 | Second wettest water year on record reported for Reno already
January 15, 2023
Just three and a half months into the water year, Reno has seen the second wettest on record.
KUNC | Mountain West states getting millions in federal funds for drought resilience
January 15, 2023
In Nevada, more than $1.7 million will pay for Las Vegas Valley homeowners using septic tanks to convert to the municipal sewer system. This recycles water back into Lake Mead, which is fed by the drought-stricken Colorado River, said Doa Ross, deputy general manager of engineering for the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
LANDS & WILDLIFE
KUNR | Northern Nevada lithium mine draws Native resistance from across the West
January 10, 2023
Protesters from the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and Burns Paiute Tribe were joined by activists from tribal nations across the region, including the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Plaintiffs want the court to overturn federal approval for the mine – a decision that was fast-tracked by the Bureau of Land Management in the last days of the Trump administration.
Carson Now | Thick with snow: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest urges safety when visiting public lands | Carson Now
January 12, 2023
This year, Nevada and Eastern California have experienced a variety of winter storms creating, at times, hazardous conditions for visitors and so, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is reminding visitors to be extra careful while recreating this winter. National Forest System (NFS) lands can provide stunning scenery and recreational opportunities during the winter. Still, it is essential to be aware of the dangers and risks associated with winter weather. Snowstorms, freezing temperatures, prolonged exposure to cold winds, and possible avalanches in some areas are all concerns when recreating in the winter months.
Public News Service | Proposed NV National Monument Seen as Crucial to Biden ’30×30′ Campaign
January 17, 2023
Nevada is still waiting for official designation of a new national monument. In late November, President Joe Biden said he is “committed” to protecting Avi Kwa Ame. Conservation groups and tribes say making Avi Kwa Ame a national monument would align with Biden’s “30 by 30” campaign, which aims to protect 30% of U.S. land and waters by 2030.
REGIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
ENERGY
E&E News | Bipartisan support for China oil ban could be harbinger
January 17, 2023
The U.S. House passes its first energy bill of the 2023 session: A bipartisan measure to block sales of oil from strategic reserves to China, which some Democrats hope will open the door to additional export bans
Politico | Climate law fuels solar vs. wind battle
January 17, 2023
Inflation Reduction Act incentives are changing the economics of clean energy projects and in some cases helping to tip the scales in favor of solar and storage projects over wind farms.
Distilled | Ventilation Isn’t Enough To Make Gas Stoves Safe
January 12, 2023
Natural gas proponents say exhaust hoods can limit health impacts from gas stoves, but ventilation experts say that isn’t necessarily true.
EcoWatch | EVs Promise Savings to Most U.S. Vehicle Owners, But Not the Poorest
January 12, 2023
Most U.S. residents could both save money and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by switching to electric vehicles (EVs). However, the savings still wouldn’t reach the people who most need them without policy changes.
Washington Post | How dark money groups led Ohio to redefine gas as ‘green energy’
January 12, 2023
A pair of dark money political groups helped persuade Ohio to pass a law legally declaring natural gas to be “green energy.” Now, documents show they’re working to try to get other states to follow suit.
The Hill | Key House Republican floats energy package
January 12, 2023
The new Republican leader of the House energy committee teases a energy package that will aim to boost natural gas exports, modernize energy infrastructure, and promote carbon capture, nuclear and renewables.
The Hill | Key figures quash suggestions of gas stove ban
January 11, 2023
The White House and a key independent regulator are pushing back on the idea of a ban on new gas stoves as tensions over the restrictions boil over in Washington.
Grist | U.S. regulators hinted at a possible ban on gas stoves. The debate boiled over. The White House and the top federal consumer safety official say they have no plans to ban new gas stoves after the suggestion of a ban ignites a heated debate.
E&E News | Black business owners test offshore wind for diversity
January 11, 2023
As federal and state officials look to create a diverse clean energy workforce, Black business owners search for their place in the white-dominated offshore wind industry.
OIL & GAS:
New York Times | The New Soldiers in Propane’s Fight Against Climate Action: Television Stars
January 11, 2023
A petroleum industry group has spent millions of dollars to spread what it calls “provocative anti-electrification messaging” on TV, social media, and in print, including paying an HGTV star for propane-boosting spots.
E&E News | Talk of gas stove rules angers Manchin, Republicans
January 11, 2023
After a top federal consumer safety official suggests banning gas stoves, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin joins Republicans’ displeasure, saying “the federal government has no business telling American families how to cook their dinner.”
Los Angeles Times | Newsom proposes cuts to climate change programs amid cloudy economic outlook
January 10, 2023
California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes cutting $6 billion from climate programs, including electric vehicle incentives, to offset a projected $22.5 billion deficit.
Canary Media | What’s next for grid storage after a booming but chaotic year?
January 3, 2023
U.S. battery storage deployment exceeded federal expectations in 2022 and has seen a “bonkers rate of acceleration” from just a few years ago, says a clean power expert.
Recurrent | Winter & Cold Weather EV Range Loss in 7,000 Cars December 12, 2022 Recurrent, a data science company that researches electric vehicles, took a look at 13 EV models and compared their battery range at 70°F to around 20-30°F. The result? Cars that come standard with an efficient electric heat pump used up a far smaller percentage of their range than cars without. Washington Post | Why you might want a heat pump in your electric car |
January 12, 2023
But there’s a fix for electric cars with dwindling range in winter: the humble heat pump. Two factors account for why electric vehicles have a slightly harder time in cold weather than gas-powered cars. One stems from the simple reality that the massive lithium-ion batteries in electric cars perform best around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. “Cars are like humans,” said Anna Stefanopoulou, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. “They like room temperature.”
The Hill | Could solar power work in space? Test aims to find outSolar power heads to space:
January 12, 2023
A solar power prototype launches into space as California scientists seek to prove space-based solar power’s viability.
HEAT & CLIMATE
E&E News | A risk to Biden’s climate law: Depleted agencies
January 17, 2023
President Joe Biden’s climate agenda is at risk of getting squeezed between a chronic shortage of federal workers and threats by House Republicans to slash spending. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), as part of a deal to win his gavel, has signed onto a plan by GOP hardliners to try and roll back discretionary spending to fiscal 2022 levels. That equates to a cut of about $130 billion from current spending levels and is line with new GOP calls to balance the federal budget. Democrats are positioned to kill those proposals in the Senate. But conservatives still hope to use looming deadlines for government funding and the debt ceiling as leverage to extract whatever concessions they can.
Grist | US emissions rose in 2022. Here’s why that’s not as bad as it sounds.
January 10, 2023
A research group finds U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased just over 1% last year, but also spots signs the country is emitting less carbon and weaning off coal power even as its economy grows.
Grist | EPA’s proposed air pollution standards for soot could save thousands of lives
January 10, 2023
New emissions limits could save lives: The Biden administration looks to lower limits on soot emissions from vehicles, power plants and construction sites — a rule change that could save thousands of lives each year.
Inside Climate News | Exxon Accurately Predicted Global Warming, Years Before Casting Doubt on Climate Science
January 12, 2023
New research shows the company’s scientists were as “skillful” as independent experts in predicting how the burning of fossil fuels would warm the planet and bring about climate change.
LANDS & WILDLIFE
E&E News | Biden admin revisits sage grouse regs, teeing up fresh battles
January 12, 2023
The federal Bureau of Land Management works to complete a greater sage grouse management plan including possible new restrictions on oil and gas and renewable energy development across 10 Western states.
PBS | Scientists consider moving species as a last resort amid climate change
January 17, 2023
In a desperate effort to save a seabird species in Hawaii from rising ocean waters, scientists are moving chicks to a new island hundreds of miles away. Moving species to save them — once considered taboo — is quickly gaining traction as climate change upends habitats.
ELECTIONS & POLITICS
Nevada Independent | Lombardo orders freeze on new state regulations, cuts to professional licensing rules
January 12, 2023
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo signed an executive order Thursday requiring all executive branch entities to review existing state regulations and recommend at least 10 to be removed by May 1.
Nevada Independent | Former senator’s appointment to lead state agency raises constitutional questions
January 13, 2023
The appointment of former Republican state Sen. James Settelmeyer as director of the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources spurred questions this week over whether the appointment might clash with the Nevada Constitution. Jacob Solis has the story.
The Nevada Independent | Q&A: Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar on his Latino roots, preserving access to polls
January 13, 2023
When Cisco Aguilar took his oath of office Jan. 2, he became Nevada’s first Latino secretary of state. The son of an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union electrician and the grandson of a union leader, Aguilar said that family history shapes and inspires him as he takes on a job that oversees the Silver State’s elections, as well as a range of other duties including business licensing, certifying ballot questions and maintaining voter registration records.
The Nevada Independent | Freshmen Orientation: Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva
January 13, 2023
A freshman Democrat born in Mumbai, India, Reuben D’Silva is the first Indian-American assemblyman to serve in the Legislature. He represents Las Vegas area District 28, which includes Sunrise Manor and neighborhoods between Bonanza Road and parts of Cheyenne Avenue from Pecos Road to parts of North Hollywood Boulevard.
This is Reno | Nevada Legislature earns ‘A’ for election reforms, but path forward less clear | NevadaCurrent
January 13, 2023
Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, who defeated a virulent election denier in the 2022 midterms, on the campaign trail said his first legislative priority would be to introduce a bill to criminalize attacks against election workers.
Las Vegas Review Journal | Nevada receives ‘A’ grade on election report card | LVRJ
January 12, 2023
Nevada received an “A” grade for its election policy progress from the Institute for Responsive Government for the laws passed in the 2021 legislative session that expanded voting access in the state. Nevada was one of four states to receive an “A” in the report released Wednesday, joining Colorado, Delaware and Washington D.C.
The Nevada Independent | Rep. Steven Horsford on his new role atop the vaunted Congressional Black Caucus
January 16, 2023
When Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) first joined the Congressional Black Caucus as a freshman in 2013, then-Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) was the chair of the powerful group of 45 members. Fast forward 10 years: Last week, Horsford was sworn in as the chair of what is now the 58-member group.
Las Vegas Review Journal | Sigal Chattah is new national rep to the Republican National Committee
January 16, 2023
Chattah defeated retired attorney Pauline Lee by 75 votes at Saturday’s meeting in Ely, with 222 central committee members voting for Chattah and 147 voting for Lee.
Las Vegas Sun | Las Vegas downtown campaign announced by mayor in State of City
January 12, 2023
A new marketing campaign aimed at drawing more attention to Las Vegas’ downtown area and small businesses was announced, and an update was provided on the California-involved I-15 widening project as Mayor Carolyn Goodman delivered her annual State of the City address Thursday night.
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