On the campaign trail, Joe Lombardo made very few statements about environmental issues. As a result, the conservation community was not sure what to expect from him and his administration. Thus far, Governor Lombardo’s record is a mixed bag. While he and his administration have made some positive steps, particularly in his support of the state’s clean energy economic opportunities, he has also taken actions to oppose public land protection and promote polluting, out-of-state fossil fuels. As Nevada continues to deal with extreme weather and unhealthy pollution, leadership and action from the state is needed now more than ever. Here is our evaluation of Governor Lombardo in four key areas:
Leadership: D-
We were discouraged to see Governor Lombardo’s first major stance on environmental issues was to oppose the designation of the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. A product of years of engagement, Avi Kwa Ame holds significance for Indigenous communities, protects ecological resources, and strengthens Nevada’s outdoor recreation economy. The Governor also issued a disappointing Executive Order on his administration’s energy policy, which emphasized continued reliance on methane gas and advocated for expensive new projects that enrich utilities while driving up costs for Nevada families. Additionally, Governor Lombardo withdrew Nevada from the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of more than two dozen governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These actions have weakened Nevada’s leadership on clean energy, climate, and conservation.
Administration: B
For the most part, the Governor’s staff and agency heads have had an open-door policy and have signaled a willingness to work with advocates from the environmental community. One highlight is the Governor’s Office of Economic Development’s strategic plan, which signals that transportation electrification and clean energy are a priority for diversifying our economy. However, we’ve had concerns with Governor Lombaro continuing to hold a special place for fossil fuel executives, naming the Southwest Gas CEO as Chair of his transition team’s Energy Working Committee and appointing a gas utility lobbyist to lead the state’s energy office. Although we don’t always agree with the administration’s perspective, we hope they will remain open to common sense conservation actions for the betterment of the state.
Appointments: B+
While the Governor has not made many appointments to conservation-related boards and commissions in his first few months in office, he is off to a good start. Governor Lombardo recently made a strong decision by reappointing the Chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, ensuring that the commission has the leadership and stability to continue to center climate and clean energy in their work. He has also made good appointments to the Advisory Board on Outdoor Recreation and the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council. We hope the Governor will continue to make solid appointments of conservation voices to these positions.
Legislative Session: C
Governor Lombardo vetoed a record number of bills this legislative session, including several pro-conservation bills. Our scorecard details 18 of the most important environmental policies that reached the Governor’s desk this session. Of the 18, he signed 14 and vetoed 4. While we appreciate the bills that were signed, the vetoed bills represent significant missed opportunities to reduce toxic pollution in our state and tackle the impacts of extreme heat on our communities. We hope to see Governor Lombardo work more closely with the Legislature to address these and other conservation issues moving forward.