As we celebrate Earth Week, we are reminded of our collective responsibility to protect the environment not just for ourselves, but for future generations to come. The American Lung Association reports that urban centers in Nevada experience some of the worst ozone and air particulate pollution in the country.

To help with this, Nevada has made meaningful progress toward a cleaner, healthier future thanks to landmark federal programs like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Together, these initiatives have brought over $15.5 billion in clean energy investments to our state and created more than 21,700 good-paying jobs for Nevadans.

Several federal tax credits exist to help Nevadans reduce their energy bills, make their homes more weather resistant, and transition to clean energy such as the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit which can provide up to $2,000 for heat pumps (HVAC and water heater) and the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit which provides up to $7,500 toward brand-new electric cars (or up to $4,000 toward used electric cars) which can save money on gas and maintenance in the long run.

These initiatives protect our air, help shield our communities from pollution-related illnesses, and ensure our home energy costs stay affordable, however, recent federal actions threaten to reverse these programs and take away resources that our communities are counting on.

Protecting our Earth starts with actions at home and investments within our state. We must continue to stand at the forefront of that fight and secure resources our communities need.