Alexa Aispuro

Despite Community Concerns with Gas Prices and Pollution, NV Energy Opening a New Gas Peaker Plant

Media Contact: Carolina Chacon | carolina@chaconconsulting.com | 702-810-7155 While the community continues to support a transition to low-cost clean energy, NV Energy doubles down on costly fossil fuels LAS VEGAS – Yesterday, after an expedited process that included little to no community input, NV Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to build a new methane gas plant received the approval of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN). The 440 MW Silverhawk Peaking Plant will be the first gas plant added by NV Energy since 2014. “We are deeply disappointed in the PUCN’s quick approval of NV Energy’s disastrous proposal to open a new polluting gas plant,” said Estefany Carrasco Gonzalez, Chispa National Director. “This decision will hinder Nevada’s ability to transition to our stated goals of achieving 50% renewable energy by 2030, and it will put consumers on the hook paying for costly new fossil fuel infrastructure that will accelerate the climate crisis. Worse yet, out-of-control gas prices have already hurt our families’ ability to budget for basic living expenses.”  “Just last month, Latinx consumers told the PUCN that they can’t afford to keep up with the rising costs of gas and want to see more investments in low-cost clean and renewable energy,” said Juan Carlos Guardado, Chispa Nevada organizer. “NV Energy doubling down on gas is wrong for our environment and bad for our pocketbooks.” Methane gas, branded as “natural” gas by the fossil fuel industry, releases potent greenhouse gasses that are more powerful and more polluting than carbon dioxide. Peaker plants like this one are disproportionately located near or in low-income communities and communities of color, exposing families to deadly toxins that poison our health and our environment. Methane gas is also imported from out of state, sidelining Nevada’s vast solar and clean energy potential.  “The rushed approval for NV Energy’s IRP reveals a broken planning process that ignores consumer concerns with methane gas and with fossil fuels generally,” continued Carrasco Gonzalez. “We urge the PUCN, NV Energy and other stakeholders to be responsive to our communities and to consider alternative solutions that focus on energy efficiency, reliability and cost-savings, and to account for the environmental and public health consequences of fossil fuels when they plan for and approve new infrastructure.”  ### Chispa Nevada is a program of the League of Conservation Voters that builds the power of Latinx communities to fight for climate justice and our democracy. Visit us at https://chispalcv.org for more information.

Despite Community Concerns with Gas Prices and Pollution, NV Energy Opening a New Gas Peaker Plant Read More »

LCV and CHISPA Applauds EPA Decision to Reaffirm Advanced Clean Truck States’ Authority

For Press Inquiries Nick Abraham nabraham@lcv.org 206-833-7021 States across the country can continue to protect public health from heavy-duty truck pollution Washington, D.C. – Today, the Biden-Harris Environmental Protection Agency reversed another anti-environmental Trump policy and restored waivers for California’s clean truck standards. These standards go beyond national clean truck protections and were first adopted in California but have now been passed in Oregon, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Vermont – covering 20 percent of the medium- and heavy-duty market. In response, League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa issued the following statements: “We are happy to see Administrator Regan make this crucial decision to allow states to further protect public health and tackle climate pollution from trucks,” said LCV Climate and Clean Energy Advocate Darien Davis. “We know diesel tailpipe emissions are a major source of upper respiratory disease, asthma, and cancer and transportation is the nation’s largest source of climate pollution. State leaders across the country are stepping up to protect their communities. This decision reaffirms their rights to use the tools they need to save lives and fight the climate crisis.” “This is a victory for communities across the country who want to breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives,” said Senior Vice President of Community & Civic Engagement Sandra Peréz González. “States like California have led the way to reduce dangerous diesel pollution. There is much more work to do to ensure every community breathes clean air but this ruling allows state and local elected officials the opportunity to step up and lead.”

LCV and CHISPA Applauds EPA Decision to Reaffirm Advanced Clean Truck States’ Authority Read More »

LCV and Chispa Slam Republican-led House Passage of Polluters Over People Act

Contact: Emily Samsel, esamsel@lcv.org, 828-713-9647 Washington, D.C. – In response to the Republican-controlled House’s passage of the Polluters Over People Act, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa issued the following statements: LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo: “House Republicans just passed their biggest legislative priority — a disgraceful package of bills that will raise costs, perpetuate the climate crisis, and worsen environmental injustice. Who wins in this bill? Big Oil CEOs that are already raking in sky high profits at our expense. The Polluters Over People Act would lock the country into harmful fossil fuel production for decades and allow destructive oil and gas pipelines to be built without critical community input. Despite Republicans’ misnomer for the legislation, the Polluters Over People Act will actually raise costs for consumers, including by ending popular, cost-saving clean energy rebates and investments, and it would raise the deficit to boot. Put simply, this package will enrich Big Oil CEOs at the expense of communities, especially communities of color, who are disproportionately exposed to health-harming toxic pollution.” Senior Vice President of Community and Civic Engagement Sandra Pérez González: “Chispa LCV condemns the passage of this destructive energy package that does not offer real solutions to high energy costs and would lock us into decades of dirty fossil fuels, perpetuate the climate crisis, and cut out our communities from the process. The last thing our communities need is more dirty and dangerous pollution in the air where we work, play, live, learn, and spend time with our families. The extreme MAGA Republican-controlled House is completely out of step with the vast majority of people in this country who support affordable, clean energy.” # # #

LCV and Chispa Slam Republican-led House Passage of Polluters Over People Act Read More »

Chispa Nevada and Clean Air Advocates Applaud $10 Million EPA Award for  Clark County School District to Purchase 25 Electric School Buses EPA Clean School Bus Rebates Funding a Clean Ride for Kids In All 50 States

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Today, the U.S. EPA announced that Clark County School District (CCSD)…

Chispa Nevada and Clean Air Advocates Applaud $10 Million EPA Award for  Clark County School District to Purchase 25 Electric School Buses EPA Clean School Bus Rebates Funding a Clean Ride for Kids In All 50 States Read More »

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