Nevada’s Clean Energy Future is at Risk

Did you know The Silver State generates a quarter of its electricity from solar energy, ranking second in the nation? Covered in desert, Nevada is uniquely positioned to convert its abundant sunshine into clean, renewable power.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we’ve seen a veritable boom in clean energy investment across the country — and especially in Northern Nevada. The law jumpstarted domestic supply chains for solar panels, batteries, and critical minerals, many of which had never been manufactured in the U.S. before. This isn’t just about energy — it’s about jobs, innovation, and creation care.

But now, that progress is under threat.

Several key provisions of the law — which made this boom possible — are set to be cut or phased down:

• 30D Tax Credit: A vital consumer credit for American-made electric vehicles, slated to expire by year’s end.
• 25D Tax Credit: A subsidy for rooftop solar, also ending this year.
• Investment (ITC) and Production Tax Credits (PTC): These credits — which incentivize clean energy construction and output — will begin phasing down in 2029, disappearing by 2031.
• 45X Manufacturing Tax Credit: Crucial to financing U.S.-based solar, battery, and critical mineral manufacturing, this credit will phase out starting in 2031.
• End of Transferability by 2027: This tool allows companies without taxable income to sell or carry forward their credits — enabling new clean energy projects to get off the ground. Eliminating it would freeze many future developments.
• Tougher Eligibility Requirements: Projects would now have to be placed in service, not just under construction, to qualify.
• Foreign Entity Restrictions: A web of complicated rules would bar partnerships with companies that have any ties to nations deemed national security risks — particularly China — further complicating already fragile supply chains.

Faith-Based Advocacy: Why This Matters

As people of faith, we are called to care for God’s creation and for the well-being of our neighbors. The ELCA social statement Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice declares:

“We are to participate actively in the redemption of the whole creation, preserving the integrity of the Earth and seeking justice and sustainability in our relationship with the environment.”

The ELCA’s social statement Economic Life: Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All reminds us:

“Economic decisions must be evaluated not only on the basis of growth or efficiency, but also in terms of whether they sustain the Earth’s resources and provide for present and future generations.”

Clean energy is not just smart policy, it’s moral responsibility.

As Nevada leads the nation in solar generation, we cannot afford to go backward. Cutting these tax credits would slow down our clean energy progress, stall job creation, and deepen our reliance on fossil fuels — all while threatening the most vulnerable among us who bear the brunt of climate-related disasters.

Action Needed

Now is the time to speak out. Urge your Senators to:

• Preserve the full range of clean energy tax credits
• Protect rooftop solar and domestic EV incentives
• Maintain transferability and flexible financing tools
• Ensure justice and transparency in supply chain policies

Rev. Dr. Nelson Rivera, professor at United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia and Gettysburg, wrote a powerful piece for Living Lutheran.

Read here

From the report: “A group of religious leaders and immigrant advocates is suing to block a new Tennessee law that would impose criminal penalties for housing immigrants without legal status. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the lead plaintiff in the suit, joined by a local landlord and a father whose son-in-law has a pending asylum case. The group argues that the law could criminalize a church for offering shelter, a landlord for renting out a room, or anyone living with someone who doesn’t have legal status.

Read here.

Every Nevadan deserves consistent access to nutritious food. Food access is not a privilege, it is a fundamental human right. Yet, proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act threaten this right for hundreds of thousands of Nevadans.

We cannot stand by while this vital support system is at risk. Nor can we accept a future where our vision of a strong, healthy Nevada, where every person has the opportunity to thrive, is compromised.

These proposed changes aren’t just numbers on a page. They represent real harm to our neighbors. If passed, Nevada would be forced to either:

• Find $170 million each year to maintain current SNAP benefits,
• Or drastically reduce access and benefits, creating a devastating gap in our state’s food safety net.

Neither option is acceptable.

• 1 in 6 Nevadans rely on SNAP.
• Our enrollment rate is higher than all but five other states.
• 62% of Nevada’s SNAP recipients are children.
• 1 in 5 children in Nevada experiences food insecurity, according to Feeding America.

SNAP isn’t just efficient, it’s essential. For every meal a food bank provides, SNAP can provide nine. Cutting SNAP won’t just hurt families, it will overwhelm our food banks and community organizations already stretched thin.

Moreover, SNAP is not only a moral imperative but a smart investment: every $1 in SNAP benefits generates about $1.80 in local economic activity.

What You Can Do:
Contact Nevada’s U.S. Senators today and respectfully urge them to reject any proposal that cuts or undermines SNAP. Protecting this lifeline is critical to the health, dignity, and stability of our communities.

Together, we can uphold the values of compassion, equity, and care—and ensure no Nevadan goes hungry.