Part 2: Nevada’s Solar Industry Faces a Dark Future

In our 20-part series, Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill: Nevada’s Wins and Losses, we confront a blow to Nevada’s solar industry, which powers 30% of our energy. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (Sec. 1201) ends homeowner solar tax credits in 2025 and phases out commercial credits by 2031, threatening 5,000 jobs. The New York Times calls it a “renewable energy derailment,” and Nevada’s Solar Energy Association projects 1,000 job losses by 2027.

Take Sparks resident Linda, who spent $20,000 on solar panels, expecting a 30% credit. She’s out $6,000, and her bills may climb as NV Energy leans on coal. Commercial solar farms in Clark County face higher costs, passed to consumers. In 2023, Nevada led the U.S. in solar growth, but this bill favors fossil fuels, sparing wind credits until 2027. The CBO estimates a 10% rise in utility costs for solar-heavy states.

Nevada’s clear skies made us a clean energy leader. As jobs and savings fade, reflect on our state’s grit. Can we innovate to keep solar alive, or will we lose our edge in the energy race?

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