Governor Lombardo Signs AB458 Into Law: More Nevada Renters and Workers to Benefit from Solar
Carson City, NV – Today, the Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) applauds Governor Lombardo for signing Assembly Bill 458 (AB458),
a bipartisan measure that expands access to rooftop solar for Nevada
families living in affordable housing. The new law is an important step
towards reducing utility bills, creating quality local jobs, and
delivering clean energy benefits more broadly across the state. “With the signing of Assembly Bill 458, now all Nevadans living in affordable housing can access solar cost savings,” said Assemblymember Howard Watts,
the sponsor of the legislation. “Until now, many lower-income renters
couldn’t participate in Nevada’s booming clean energy economy. This law
finally makes the financial benefits of solar available to these
renters—benefits that homeowners have been enjoying for decades.” “I
am grateful to Governor Lombardo, Assemblymember Watts, and Nevada’s
legislators for passing this important legislation. AB458 enables
Nevada’s $156 million Solar for All program to achieve its full
potential,” said Kirsten Stasio, CEO of the Nevada Clean Energy Fund.
“Nevada Solar for All will significantly reduce utility bills for more
than 50,000 Nevadans, create 1,000 quality jobs, and set up job training
and workforce development programs to bring more people into the clean
energy sector. With AB458 in place, NCEF expects nearly 100 affordable
housing complexes to participate.” This
legislation will bring wide-ranging benefits to Nevada communities,
which is why it received broad support from NCEF’s partners in the
housing and energy sectors, as well as community, faith, tribal, public
health, and environmental advocates in the Assembly and Senate. “Nevada is experiencing the nation’s most severe shortage of
affordable housing, and we need to use every tool at our disposal to
address this problem. Housing stability and energy bills are linked, so
AB458 is one of those tools,” said Maurice Page, Executive Director of the Nevada Housing Coalition.
“This legislation makes it simpler and more cost-effective for
affordable housing developers to install rooftop solar and share the
utility bill savings with their tenants. I commend Governor Lombardo and
Assemblymember Watts for working together to make this targeted,
practical solution a reality.” “With
some of the highest electricity rates and fastest warming summers in
the country, Nevada families desperately need relief. Renters living in
affordable housing especially deserve lower electricity bills, and AB458
will help make that a reality, particularly in combination with the
Nevada Solar for All program,” said Audrey Peral, Chispa Nevada Program Director. “We
thank Assemblymember Watts and Governor Lombardo for recognizing that
using homegrown solar energy to deliver bill savings for vulnerable
households is common-sense policy we must all get behind. We look
forward to working with the Nevada Clean Energy Fund to ensure the Solar
for All program helps as many Nevadans as possible.” “Tribal
communities, like other rural communities across Nevada, experience
energy insecurity and issues with energy reliability. AB458 was
carefully crafted to ensure that the state’s 15 Tribal Housing
Authorities can participate in Solar-Powered Affordable Housing in a way
that matches these needs,” said Andrea Martinez, former Chairwoman of the Walker River Paiute Tribe and Chair of NCEF’s Tribal Advisory Board.
“Solar-Powered Affordable Housing will help lower energy bills and
create energy resilience for Native community members, while reducing
operating costs for Tribal Housing Authorities. I applaud Governor
Lombardo and Assemblymember Watts for their leadership.” AB458
went into effect immediately upon signing. Next, NV Energy will develop
a Solar-Powered Affordable Housing tariff and submit it to the Public
Utilities Commission before December 31, 2025. About the Nevada Clean Energy Fund The
Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) is a nonprofit organization that
supports a thriving, affordable, and accessible clean energy economy by
providing financial and technical resources to Nevadans. NCEF was
established by Nevada legislation in 2017 as the state’s green bank.
NCEF implements programs for diverse Nevada stakeholders, including
affordable housing, Tribes, nonprofits, schools, local governments, and
rural communities. Clean energy measures include building
electrification and efficiency, renewable energy, clean vehicles, and
others.
a bipartisan measure that expands access to rooftop solar for Nevada
families living in affordable housing. The new law is an important step
towards reducing utility bills, creating quality local jobs, and
delivering clean energy benefits more broadly across the state. “With the signing of Assembly Bill 458, now all Nevadans living in affordable housing can access solar cost savings,” said Assemblymember Howard Watts,
the sponsor of the legislation. “Until now, many lower-income renters
couldn’t participate in Nevada’s booming clean energy economy. This law
finally makes the financial benefits of solar available to these
renters—benefits that homeowners have been enjoying for decades.” “I
am grateful to Governor Lombardo, Assemblymember Watts, and Nevada’s
legislators for passing this important legislation. AB458 enables
Nevada’s $156 million Solar for All program to achieve its full
potential,” said Kirsten Stasio, CEO of the Nevada Clean Energy Fund.
“Nevada Solar for All will significantly reduce utility bills for more
than 50,000 Nevadans, create 1,000 quality jobs, and set up job training
and workforce development programs to bring more people into the clean
energy sector. With AB458 in place, NCEF expects nearly 100 affordable
housing complexes to participate.” This
legislation will bring wide-ranging benefits to Nevada communities,
which is why it received broad support from NCEF’s partners in the
housing and energy sectors, as well as community, faith, tribal, public
health, and environmental advocates in the Assembly and Senate. “Nevada is experiencing the nation’s most severe shortage of
affordable housing, and we need to use every tool at our disposal to
address this problem. Housing stability and energy bills are linked, so
AB458 is one of those tools,” said Maurice Page, Executive Director of the Nevada Housing Coalition.
“This legislation makes it simpler and more cost-effective for
affordable housing developers to install rooftop solar and share the
utility bill savings with their tenants. I commend Governor Lombardo and
Assemblymember Watts for working together to make this targeted,
practical solution a reality.” “With
some of the highest electricity rates and fastest warming summers in
the country, Nevada families desperately need relief. Renters living in
affordable housing especially deserve lower electricity bills, and AB458
will help make that a reality, particularly in combination with the
Nevada Solar for All program,” said Audrey Peral, Chispa Nevada Program Director. “We
thank Assemblymember Watts and Governor Lombardo for recognizing that
using homegrown solar energy to deliver bill savings for vulnerable
households is common-sense policy we must all get behind. We look
forward to working with the Nevada Clean Energy Fund to ensure the Solar
for All program helps as many Nevadans as possible.” “Tribal
communities, like other rural communities across Nevada, experience
energy insecurity and issues with energy reliability. AB458 was
carefully crafted to ensure that the state’s 15 Tribal Housing
Authorities can participate in Solar-Powered Affordable Housing in a way
that matches these needs,” said Andrea Martinez, former Chairwoman of the Walker River Paiute Tribe and Chair of NCEF’s Tribal Advisory Board.
“Solar-Powered Affordable Housing will help lower energy bills and
create energy resilience for Native community members, while reducing
operating costs for Tribal Housing Authorities. I applaud Governor
Lombardo and Assemblymember Watts for their leadership.” AB458
went into effect immediately upon signing. Next, NV Energy will develop
a Solar-Powered Affordable Housing tariff and submit it to the Public
Utilities Commission before December 31, 2025. About the Nevada Clean Energy Fund The
Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) is a nonprofit organization that
supports a thriving, affordable, and accessible clean energy economy by
providing financial and technical resources to Nevadans. NCEF was
established by Nevada legislation in 2017 as the state’s green bank.
NCEF implements programs for diverse Nevada stakeholders, including
affordable housing, Tribes, nonprofits, schools, local governments, and
rural communities. Clean energy measures include building
electrification and efficiency, renewable energy, clean vehicles, and
others.
