Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 | 2 a.m.
View more of the Sun's opinion section
Nevada is on the road to generating at least half of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Solar and wind projects aren’t only more sustainable, they’re more affordable than fossil fuel alternatives.
The energy industry isn’t the only source of carbon emissions, though. In 2017, transportation emissions surpassed those of power plants for the first time, emitting more than 1.8 billion metric tons of CO2.
In Las Vegas, automotive emissions are having a major impact on public health. The brown band of smog that can be seen hanging over the city on bright summer days can cause asthma, emphysema and even lung cancer. A study from the American Lung Association found Las Vegas to be the 12th-most ozone-polluted American city, with 60 days of unhealthy air quality.
Reducing automotive emissions is essential to reducing the nearly two months of the year when our air is a health risk and to addressing the threat of climate change. Nevada should promote policies to make electric vehicles more attainable by supporting rebates on electric vehicles and investing in the physical infrastructure to support them, such as charging stations.
