Seventeen governors from across the nation have agreed to work together to advance clean, renewable energy initiatives. Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick has more.
Under this agreement, states will work together to diversify energy sources, expand clean energy options and modernize infrastructure. Governors have yet to release specific policy details, but their advisors are meeting soon to begin developing plans.
California Governor Jerry Brown, one of the participating governors, says this deal is about more than the environment.
“The key as I see it is building resilience in our local economies," he says, "fostering the kind of jobs that a renewable economy makes possible and collaborating across borders.”
Nevada’s Brian Sandoval also signed the agreement, one of the four Republican governors to do so.
“This accord will allow Nevada and our other states to create new pathways and initiatives to ensure that our energy sector remains one of the cleanest and most robust in the nation,” he says.
This announcement comes after a series of contentious public meetings over rate hikes for solar customers in Nevada. The state Public Utilities Commission says price increases are fair, while solar power advocates say the state has reneged on its promise to support renewable energy.