TL/DR –
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the largest U.S. climate bill in history, allocated nearly $400 billion towards fighting climate change and is expected to fuel a growing number of projects in 2024. The Biden administration protected over 12.5 million acres of public lands in 2023, which included Nevada’s Avi Kwa Ame, as part of his “America the Beautiful” initiative. Additionally, the state of Nevada has been increasingly focused on renewable energy, aiming for a 50% renewable energy portfolio by 2030, and has benefitted from significant funding towards renewable energy development in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Climate Funding and Conservation Efforts
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, allocated nearly $400 billion to climate change measures, such as habitat restoration and renewable energy investment, positively impacting Nevada and the West. Funding from this largest U.S. climate bill in history was disbursed to government agencies, businesses, and organizations in 2023. More projects will receive this funding in 2024.
Preservation of Wildlife Habitats
In 2023, the Biden administration protected over 12.5 million acres of public lands, including the Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada, through national monuments, mineral withdrawals, and wildlife refuges. In addition, Nevada’s congressional members initiated bills to protect the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, whose boundaries with the military are expected to be a topic of discussion in 2024.
Wildlife Protection Initiatives
The Federal Government has marked $350 million for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, intending to safeguard wildlife and motorists from collisions. Nevada’s Assembly Bill 112 has added $5 million for wildlife crossing and habitat projects to continue in 2024.
Oil and Gas Reform
2023 was a significant year for oil and gas reform. The Biden administration continued to approve oil and gas allowances created in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, including offshore oil and gas leasing. The Willow Project, a large oil-drilling development in the Arctic wilderness, was approved while protections for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) were restored.
Heat, Drought, and Water Conservation
2023 had the hottest-ever globally recorded months from June to November. Despite a record year for snowpack in 2022-2023, the 2023-2024 season has started slow with the lowest snowpack levels for this period in the last 10 years. The continued heat waves exacerbate the existing drought in the Mojave region, prompting conservation efforts to combat water loss along the Colorado River.
Renewable Energy Development
Nevada powers a third of its energy requirements from renewable sources and aims to achieve a “50% renewable energy portfolio by 2030.” The Inflation Reduction Act dedicates almost half of its funding, approximately $200 billion, to renewable energy development including solar, wind, energy storage, and energy efficiency. Nevada has seen significant progress in this area with more than $9 billion investment in clean energy and creation of 11,000 clean energy jobs since the passage of the Clean Energy Plan.
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