Amy Dominguez, 801-928-9157, amy.dominguez@sierraclub.org
Vinny Spotleson, 702-285-6588, vinny.spotleson@gmail.com
Olivia Tanager, 504-400-3113, olivia.tanager@sierraclub.org
CARSON CITY, NEVADA— Years after taking down Nevada’s last Climate Action Plan, Governor Lombardo released a “Climate Innovation Plan.” The 32 page plan is vague, insufficient, and reads like a love letter to extractive, corporate interests. In the middle of what is set to be the hottest summer on record, Governor Lombardo has exemplified why Nevada needs strong, community-centric climate leaders, not greenwashers who do the bidding of corporate polluters.
Solar energy is mentioned five times in the document, while fossil (“natural”) gas is mentioned ten times. The Governor failed to lay out a plan for rolling out more solar, and prioritizing clean energy development. Instead, he continues to state that we must “diversify our energy portfolio,” which is thinly veiled code for continuing to rely on dirty fossil fuels. Governor Lombardo’s climate plan also fails to address climate inequities. The plan has no direct mention of equity and fails to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on communities of color.
Hundreds of people die each year in Nevada because of extreme heat. Nevada is also one of the few western states without state regulation in place for people working in extreme heat. Lives depend on Nevada’s ability to rapidly decarbonize and deploy clean energy in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way.
“In a state that is home to the two fastest warming cities in the country, we need a true climate action plan, not a pat on the back for the very industries perpetuating rapid warming across the globe,” said Olivia Tanager, Director of Sierra Club’s Toiyabe Chapter. “We will continue to hold the Lombardo administration accountable to meaningful climate action and community engagement.”
“After enduring record breaking heat this summer, this plan is a slap in the face to the people and places most impacted by extreme heat and global warming.” said Vinny Spotleson, Chair of Sierra Club’s Toiyabe Chapter. “We need to build out renewable energy development across the state, and this vague do-nothing plan doesn’t help us get any closer to reaching our climate goals.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.