Change the Climate 2020

MEMO: Climate, clean energy, and conservation are winning issues in Nevada

Feb 18, 2020

Contact: Emily Samsel, emily_samsel@lcv.org, 202-454-4573

To: Interested Parties
From: Tiernan Sittenfeld, SVP of Government Affairs, League of Conservation Voters 
Date: February 18, 2020
Re: Climate, clean energy, and conservation are winning issues in Nevada 

This Saturday, Nevadans will participate in the First in the West 2020 Caucus. With a population that is 29 percent Latinx/Hispanic, over 10 percent African-American, and nearly 10 percent Asian American/Pacific Islander, the Nevada Caucus is the first 2020 presidential contest where voters better reflect the racial diversity of the country and the Democratic Party. And in the Silver State, combating the climate crisis is a very top priority for Democratic caucusgoers. 

In our recent Nevada poll, 86% of likely Democratic caucusgoers said climate change was the most important or a very important issue. Among Latinx likely caucusgoers, climate change is the #1  most important issue. Our results are in line with public Nevada polls from the Reno Gazette-Journal and Monmouth. And 2019 polling from the Center for Western Priorities shows voters in Nevada and across the West strongly support conservation, clean energy development, climate action, and more. 

The impacts of climate change look a little different in the desert, where Nevadans are dealing with rising health risks from intense heat waves. In the absence of federal action, the Silver State, under the strong leadership of Governor Sisolak and the country’s first-ever female majority legislature, is taking action on climate change into its own hands, reducing Nevada’s carbon pollution and seizing the opportunities of the clean energy economy. Nevada ranks sixth in the nation in solar energy production. 

With Telemundo’s climate correspondent Vanessa Hauc moderating Wednesday’s Las Vegas debate, we’re optimistic that climate change will be a big part of the political conversation this week. 

The Nevada Conservation League and LCV’s Chispa Nevada and Climate Action Nevada teams have invested in earned and paid media, tracking candidate policies and statements, telling the stories of Nevadans impacted by climate change, and increasing participation through bilingual caucus trainings.  

If you’re in Nevada for the Caucus, then we have three hot tips for you:

1. Take advantage of these Only in Las Vegas opportunities to cover the climate crisis, climate impacts and clean energy in action: 

Contact: Carolina Chacon, carolinaachacon@gmail.com; Emily Samsel, emily_samsel@lcv.org 

2. Check out these recent headlines and op-eds from prominent Nevada voices:

3. Catch up on how candidates have prioritized climate in Nevada: 

Former Vice President Joe Biden

Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg 

  • Bloomberg will not be on the Nevada Caucus Ballots, but he will be at the Nevada debate 
  • Bloomberg recently committed to “encourage states [like Nevada] with more sun to embrace solar and we’ll make our electric grid 80% clean energy by 2028”  
  • Reminder: LCV’s take on Bloomberg’s Plan for 100% Clean Power

Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Senator Amy Klobuchar

Senator Bernie Sanders

Tom Steyer

Senator Elizabeth Warren