Las Vegas — August 16th marks two years since President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the largest investment in climate action and clean energy in American history. In celebration, Nevada environmental advocates applaud the IRA’s transformative progress to cut climate pollution, create thousands of good-paying clean energy jobs, and advance environmental justice. The law also saves Nevadans money on their energy bills through tax credits and lowers upfront costs for adopting clean energy technologies. These investments illustrate that Nevada can progress on clean energy while achieving economic growth, without sacrificing one for the other.
In the two years since the IRA became law, the investments advanced Nevada’s clean energy economy, spurring:
20,098 clean energy jobs: New employment opportunities across various sectors such as batteries, solar, clean tech, and electric vehicles. In 2023, the Department of Energy announced a $2 billion loan to Redwood Materials to build and expand a $3.5 billion battery campus in McCarran to create 3,400 good-paying union construction jobs and 1,600 full-time employees.
$14.5 billion in new, private investment: Significant financial commitments driving the development of clean energy infrastructure, including Tesla’s $3.6 billion Gigafactory expansion for battery and truck manufacturing.
16 clean energy projects: Expansion of clean energy initiatives boosting Nevada’s domestic clean energy manufacturing. Earlier this year, Nextracker and Unimacts announced a second tracker manufacturing line, expanding its manufacturing capacity.
These projects are testaments to the key role of federal investment in the success of Nevada’s clean energy economy.
“As we celebrate the second anniversary of the IRA, it’s essential to recognize that this bill is one of the most expansive and forward-looking pieces of policy for clean energy and environmentalism with real-life and tangible impacts for Nevadans across our state. Through this historic law, the Biden-Harris Administration has delivered on new good-paying clean energy jobs like those at Unimacts in Las Vegas and Sloan, more Nevadans installing solar for clean, renewable energy, and provide up to $7,500 to help Nevadans transition to EVs, something that is providing a boon to our state-economy,” said Angelyn Tabalba, consultant for the Nevada Conservation League.
“As we mark the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act being signed into law, we celebrate that the heart of the IRA is not just empty promises, but a historic commitment to a healthier environment, a stronger economy, and a better quality of life for everyone in Nevada,“ said Jarrett Clark, Communications Director at For Our Future Nevada. “The Biden-Harris administration is making history in Nevada through the IRA. With the first-ever federal climate investment in support of Tribal Nations in American history; the billions of dollars that will strengthen our infrastructure to withstand our unique environmental challenges like weatherizing houses and buildings; the creation of thousands of clean-energy jobs; and numerous climate resiliency projects, this is just the beginning of the benefits from the IRA coming to our state. Nevadans can finally look forward to a healthier, brighter, and more sustainable future.”
“The Biden-Harris administration’s clean energy plan is the most consequential climate legislation in history,” said Climate Power’s States Desk Tiffany Hsieh. “From Day One, the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to the clean energy transition has been abundantly clear. In the past two years, the clean energy plan has created more than 20,000 good-paying jobs while protecting our air and water, and saving Nevadans over $151.9 million in clean energy benefits. We’re grateful for the administration’s leadership on this issue, which is giving the American people more choices in how they cool their homes and drive their kids to school.”
“For years, Latine families demanded climate action from the federal government, and the Biden-Harris administration delivered with the Inflation Reduction Act, the biggest climate law in U.S. history. Through programs to promote solar access for all, zero-emissions trucks and buses, and discounts for clean energy and energy efficiency purchases, the IRA is cutting pollution, creating new jobs, and lowering costs for our families. We look forward to ensuring these federal funds reach our communities and build a healthier, affordable future for our children,” said Audrey Peral, Program Director for Chispa Nevada.
“As Nevada continues to grapple with extreme heat and skyrocketing utility bills, we remain hopeful that initiatives under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have put us on a path towards a greener and more sustainable energy future. The IRA is helping to reduce health-harming air pollution that disproportionately affects Black, Latino, Indigenous, and low-income communities. Investments in energy efficiency are saving households money on energy costs and creating better-paying jobs across our state. On this second anniversary of the IRA, we celebrate the emergent shift to clean energy that will help safeguard the well-being of our communities and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come,” said Mary Wagner, Moms Clean Air Force Nevada Organizer.
“We celebrate the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act and the progress this historic investment has made to transform Nevada,” said Eric Jeng, Executive Director at One APIA Nevada. “The IRA has been instrumental in addressing disparities that impact our communities, including low-income Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander households, by creating more clean energy jobs, lowering utility bills and building environmental resilience against climate change. We look forward to seeing continued progress through the IRA toward a safe, sustainable, and equitable future.”
“You don’t need to hold your breath,” said Ben Bryce, Senior Manager of State Affairs in the Southwest for the Environmental Defense Fund. “The clean energy plan is already bringing cleaner air and good paying jobs to Nevada. Electric vehicle and battery manufacturers have announced billions of dollars in pollution-cutting investments here that are bringing thousands of new jobs. But this is only the beginning of the incredible benefits coming in infrastructure improvements, tax breaks, and more for Nevadans.”
The IRA is driving clean energy accessibility for low-income and historically underserved communities. Nevada will receive over $96 million from the IRA to implement a Home Energy Rebates program, with discounts for energy-efficient home improvements and appliances. This program is estimated to help low-income households in Nevada save an average of 28% on their home energy bills. Earlier this year, Nevada secured $156 million for a Solar for All initiative, supporting solar upgrades on homes, affordable housing, and community-scale energy storage projects.
The IRA combined with the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, and CHIPS and Science Act create the federal Clean Energy Plan. Two years later, these landmark climate and clean energy investments have infused billions in Nevada for historic projects, including $3 billion for Brightline West, over $17 million for electric school buses in Clark County and rural school districts, and $21 million to fund the Nevada Tech hub.
Resources for tracking IRA and other Clean Energy Plan investments:
American Clean Power: Clean Energy Investing in America Report
Rebuilding America: Tracking Federal Investment in Local Infrastructure Projects
Center for American Progress: Biden Administration Investment Tracker
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