Sunday, July 11, 2021 | 2 a.m.
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Last month, I joined Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for a round-table discussion on the future of clean energy in Nevada. Our state has been and will continue to be a leader in climate action and clean energy policies, but to continue this progress and help families recover, we need the support of our city, state and federal government.
The American Jobs Plan does just that — adds national leadership and funding to bolster clean energy investments underway in Nevada and centers front-line communities most affected by the climate crisis.
The proposal makes important investments in home energy that will be game-changers for low-income families that already spend 6-8% of their income just on home energy costs. In many instances, this forces families to make difficult decisions between paying energy bills or buying groceries, paying rent, or even affording life-saving medication. Unfortunately, this experience is devastatingly common, and that’s part of why I have been working to transform conversations and policies on climate action to put communities that have been historically left behind at the forefront of the benefits of clean energy solutions.
I am proud to know the American Jobs Plan will work to upgrade low-income homes to become more energy-efficient and climate-resilient. This will allow families to save more of their hard-earned money on things that matter most. But these investments can’t wait.
We need action now. I hope Nevada’s federal delegation sees the American Jobs Plan as the necessary legislation we need to move families and our state forward.
The writer is deputy director of the Nevada Conservation League.
