Governor Lombardo Signs AB458 Into Law: More Nevada Renters and Workers to Benefit from Solar
Carson City, NV – Today, the Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) applauds Governor Lombardo for signing Assembly Bill 458 (AB458), a bipartisan measure that expands access to rooftop solar for Nevada families living in affordable housing. The new law is an important step towards reducing utility bills, creating quality local jobs, and delivering clean energy benefits more broadly across the state.
“With the signing of Assembly Bill 458, now all Nevadans living in affordable housing can access solar cost savings,” said Assemblymember Howard Watts, the sponsor of the legislation. “Until now, many lower-income renters couldn’t participate in Nevada’s booming clean energy economy. This law finally makes the financial benefits of solar available to these renters—benefits that homeowners have been enjoying for decades.”
“I am grateful to Governor Lombardo, Assemblymember Watts, and Nevada’s legislators for passing this important legislation. AB458 enables Nevada’s $156 million Solar for All program to achieve its full potential,” said Kirsten Stasio, CEO of the Nevada Clean Energy Fund. “Nevada Solar for All will significantly reduce utility bills for more than 50,000 Nevadans, create 1,000 quality jobs, and set up job training and workforce development programs to bring more people into the clean energy sector. With AB458 in place, NCEF expects nearly 100 affordable housing complexes to participate.”
This legislation will bring wide-ranging benefits to Nevada communities, which is why it received broad support from NCEF’s partners in the housing and energy sectors, as well as community, faith, tribal, public health, and environmental advocates in the Assembly and Senate.
“Nevada is experiencing the nation’s most severe shortage of affordable housing, and we need to use every tool at our disposal to address this problem. Housing stability and energy bills are linked, so AB458 is one of those tools,” said Maurice Page, Executive Director of the Nevada Housing Coalition. “This legislation makes it simpler and more cost-effective for affordable housing developers to install rooftop solar and share the utility bill savings with their tenants. I commend Governor Lombardo and Assemblymember Watts for working together to make this targeted, practical solution a reality.”
“With some of the highest electricity rates and fastest warming summers in the country, Nevada families desperately need relief. Renters living in affordable housing especially deserve lower electricity bills, and AB458 will help make that a reality, particularly in combination with the Nevada Solar for All program,” said Audrey Peral, Chispa Nevada Program Director. “We thank Assemblymember Watts and Governor Lombardo for recognizing that using homegrown solar energy to deliver bill savings for vulnerable households is common-sense policy we must all get behind. We look forward to working with the Nevada Clean Energy Fund to ensure the Solar for All program helps as many Nevadans as possible.”
“Tribal communities, like other rural communities across Nevada, experience energy insecurity and issues with energy reliability. AB458 was carefully crafted to ensure that the state’s 15 Tribal Housing Authorities can participate in Solar-Powered Affordable Housing in a way that matches these needs,” said Andrea Martinez, former Chairwoman of the Walker River Paiute Tribe and Chair of NCEF’s Tribal Advisory Board. “Solar-Powered Affordable Housing will help lower energy bills and create energy resilience for Native community members, while reducing operating costs for Tribal Housing Authorities. I applaud Governor Lombardo and Assemblymember Watts for their leadership.”
AB458 went into effect immediately upon signing. Next, NV Energy will develop a Solar-Powered Affordable Housing tariff and submit it to the Public Utilities Commission before December 31, 2025.
About the Nevada Clean Energy Fund
The Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) is a nonprofit organization that supports a thriving, affordable, and accessible clean energy economy by providing financial and technical resources to Nevadans. NCEF was established by Nevada legislation in 2017 as the state’s green bank. NCEF implements programs for diverse Nevada stakeholders, including affordable housing, Tribes, nonprofits, schools, local governments, and rural communities. Clean energy measures include building electrification and efficiency, renewable energy, clean vehicles, and others.