Declares support of the Legislature for certain principles of solar energy development in this State. (BDR R-388)
Summary
Assembly Joint Resolution 12 expresses the Nevada Legislature’s support for certain principles guiding solar energy development on public lands in Nevada. The resolution is framed as a statement of policy and federal advocacy rather than a change to Nevada statutes. It cites the national transition to clean energy, projected growth in solar power, and the federal Bureau of Land Management’s proposed updated Western Solar Plan as the backdrop for encouraging solar development in the West and in Nevada specifically.
The resolution urges the federal government to prioritize solar projects on previously disturbed public lands, including lands with heavy human disturbance or invasive annual species with no realistic path back to native plant communities. It also calls for siting decisions to be made through consultation and coordination with relevant state and local agencies so that natural resources, customs, cultures, and local economies are considered when identifying appropriate areas for development. The measure directs the Chief Clerk to transmit copies to federal and state officials, including the President, congressional delegation, and Nevada’s Governor, and takes effect upon passage.
Impact
AJR12 does not amend Nevada law, create new regulatory requirements, or appropriate funds; its effect is advisory and political. Its practical impact is to formally communicate Nevada’s legislative position to federal land-management agencies and policymakers, especially regarding solar development on federally managed lands in Nevada. The resolution may influence future federal planning, siting, and environmental review decisions, but it does not itself authorize or restrict solar projects under state law.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is supportive of solar energy development and the broader clean-energy transition, while also emphasizing careful land-use planning. The resolution presents solar as beneficial for energy costs and climate goals, and it seeks to encourage development in a way that is compatible with Nevada’s land, communities, and economy. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no additional evidence of opposition or debate in the available materials.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is not whether solar energy should be developed, but where and how it should be sited. The resolution favors concentrating projects on previously disturbed lands and on sites identified through consultation with state and local governments, which suggests concern about impacts to natural resources, cultural values, and local economies. That framing may appeal to conservation and community stakeholders, while developers or federal planners could view it as a preference that narrows the range of suitable public lands for utility-scale solar projects.
Energy; creating the Energy Storage Resource Safety Act; energy storage resources; report; emergency operations plan; State Fire Marshall; fees; Solar Energy Development Act; statements; records; Corporation Commission; emergency.
Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2023This bill sets forth provisions regarding development of geothermal, solar, or wind energy on public lands. The Department of the Interior shall establish priority areas on its land for geothermal, solar, and wind energy projects, consistent with the principles of multiple use and the renewable energy permitting goal. Among applications for a given renewable energy source, proposed projects located in priority areas for that renewable energy source shall be given the highest priority for incentivizing deployment, and be offered the opportunity to participate in any regional mitigation plan developed for the relevant priority areas. The bill provides for the disposition of revenues from the development of wind or solar energy. The bill establishes the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund to make funds available to federal, state, and tribal agencies for distribution in regions in which renewable energy projects are located on federal land for (1) restoring and protecting natural water bodies and fish and wildlife habitat and corridors, and (2) preserving and improving recreational access to federal land and water in an affected region.