Nevada governor vetoes bills, says higher RPS and community solar would be ‘premature’

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Governor says a higher RPS and community solar programme would be 'premature' in Nevada's evolving industry. Source: Flickr/mrbill

Nevada has failed to gain a community solar programme and to extend its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 40% by 2030, after governor Brian Sandoval vetoed those bills on Friday.

AB 206 would have boosted the state’s RPS up from its current standard of 25% by 2025. Also vetoed was SB 392, which would have established a state-wide community solar programme with associated utility credits.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

However, Sandoval expressed concern that the community solar bill would clash with the newly-reinstated rooftop solar industry.

“SB392 attempts to link itself to AB405 by requiring the solar energy credits to be the same for both rooftop solar and community solar gardens,” Sandoval’s veto says. “Although I am confident that the system set up by AB405 will be beneficial to Nevada and its solar energy economy, it is unclear whether these bills are compatible or conflicting.”

Sandoval also said that the higher RPS would be “premature” in Nevada’s current evolving energy policy.

“AB206 usurps the role of the (Public Utilities Commission of Nevada) and specifically prohibits it from considering the ‘uncertainty’ of energy choice,” he said.

However, the governor is set to create a committee on the state’s Energy Choice Initiative later this year, and has said he aims to consider a higher RPS and community solar gardens in the upcoming executive order.

“To achieve the goals set forth in AB206, and to respond to the concerns raised in this veto message, I will amend my executive order regarding the Committee on Energy Choice to direct it to study, review and discuss an increased RPS in the face of energy choice and make recommendations to me and the 2019 Legislature,” he said.

Things have looked up for solar in the Silver State after Sandoval passed AB 405 which reinstated the popular net metering scheme that was scrapped by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in 2015. Whilst this was a significant victory for Nevada, cemented by the return of many integrated residential installers, clean energy advocates were disappointed at the vetoes of the other bills.

“We are deeply disappointed that Governor Sandoval chose to veto legislation that would have made Nevada an emerging leader in clean energy and an advocate for working class families who support a clean energy economy,” said Rudy Zamora, director of Chispa Nevada, a project of the League of Conservation Voters.

“While Governor Sandoval's veto to increasing Nevada's renewable energy goals is a missed opportunity to strengthen the Silver State's leadership, the nine energy bills signed into law this year signal that Nevada will once again participate in our nation's growing clean energy economy,” said Jessica Scott, Interior West director for Vote Solar.

In good news, NV Energy recently issued an RfP for 50MW of utility-scale solar

21 May 2024
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 21-22 May 2024, will be our third PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2025 and beyond.
8 October 2024
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 8-9 October 2024 is our second PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The event in 2023 was a sell out success and 2024 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
22 October 2024
New York, USA
Returning for its 11th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.

Read Next

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 10, 2024
Dallas, Texas USA
Solar Media Events
April 17, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
May 1, 2024
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2024
Napa, USA