Energy

AB 70 requires Nevada's Energy Director to provide county commissioners a formal opportunity to submit written comments on tax break applications from renewable energy facilities, and to consider those comments when deciding whether to approve or deny the requests. This directly affects renewable energy projects seeking partial tax abatements (covering sales/use and property taxes) and county governments that can now formally influence these decisions. The bill updates existing law by adding this comment requirement to the application process without creating new state or local government costs, as noted in the fiscal analysis.

SB 132 appropriates $500,000 from the State General Fund to the Nevada Clean Energy Fund to support qualified clean energy projects in Nevada. This funding covers temporary project funding ("bridge funding"), technical assistance for state/local agencies, and administrative costs for the fund. The fund must submit two reports detailing how the money was spent to the Interim Finance Committee by late 2026 and 2027, and any unused funds must be returned to the State General Fund by September 17, 2027. The bill directly affects clean energy projects receiving grants and requires strict financial accountability for the state funds allocated.

SB 379 regulates solar financing companies that provide loans, leases, or power purchase agreements for residential solar systems (distributed generation systems). It prohibits financiers from charging excessive fees, requires them to verify solar installers hold proper licenses, and mandates clear disclosure of loan terms. Consumers gain extended rescission rights (3 business days for under 60, 10 days for 60+), and financiers cannot disconnect systems for single missed payments. The law also bans deceptive advertising and requires specific recordings for transactions, becoming effective after Governor approval on June 5, 2025.

AB 458 modifies Nevada's energy laws to support solar-powered affordable housing. It allows residents of such housing to participate in net metering (earning credits for excess solar power fed back to the grid) and exempts owners/operators from certain utility regulations. The bill also revises the "expanded solar access program" to limit eligibility solely to low-income residential customers, requires utilities to offer lower rates for these customers using Nevada Clean Energy Fund support, and updates community solar project rules to allow larger systems (up to 5 MW) with prioritized grid-resilient sites. These changes aim to expand access to solar benefits for affordable housing residents and low-income households while adjusting how utilities administer solar programs.

AB 528 revises property tax reductions for buildings meeting new energy efficiency standards by removing a ban on approving applications after July 1, 2021. It establishes tiered tax reductions: 20-35% annually for up to 10 years for new buildings, 20-35% for up to 5 years for existing buildings without prior reductions, and 5% for up to 3 years for recertified buildings. Buildings must now meet specific energy performance standards, including resilience credits and net zero carbon goals for certain categories. Recipients must annually report energy and water usage to the Office of Economic Development.