LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo desires to make use of the Nevada Fee on Homeland Safety to eradicate dangers to the state’s gasoline provide, which at the moment depends closely on California refineries and pipelines.
Proposing a “Fuel Resiliency Subcommittee” underneath the fee, the governor is pushing for a stronger gasoline provide chain and with fewer vulnerabilities to regional and nationwide disruptions, in accordance with a Thursday information launch from the Governor’s Workplace.
The governor mentioned a decision to kind the subcommittee will probably be formally launched and voted on throughout an upcoming assembly of the Nevada Fee on Homeland Safety.
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“Energy security is national security and that includes ensuring Nevadans have reliable access to the fuel that keeps our economy and communities running,” Lombardo mentioned. “This Subcommittee will bring together state, industry, and federal partners to develop long-term strategies that strengthen our infrastructure, diversify supply routes, and protect Nevada’s future.”
The proposal drew fast reward from the Nevada Trucking Affiliation, which recommended Lombardo for efforts “to break Nevada’s full dependence on California for our fuel supply, a move that safeguards our state’s economic vitality and homeland security.”
The state at the moment faces dangers from refinery closures which might be coming this yr and in 2026. There are additionally market fluctuations and infrastructure bottlenecks that may produce spikes in Nevada costs that might considerably affect customers and companies, the information launch mentioned.
If authorized, the Gasoline Resiliency Subcommittee will:
Conduct complete assessments of Nevada’s present and projected gasoline wants and vulnerabilities.
Discover choices to broaden infrastructure, storage, and transportation capability.
Advocate insurance policies, investments, and partnerships to boost resilience and emergency response capabilities.
Coordinate with federal and regional companions, together with the Federal Allowing Enchancment Steering Council (FPISC), the Division of Vitality, and the Division of Transportation, to speed up allowing and tackle multi-jurisdictional limitations to important infrastructure tasks.
Officers from the Nevada Resort Affiliation pointed to the necessity for safeguards and higher infrastructure in early 2023 on “Tourism Day” on the Nevada Legislature after fears {that a} pipeline leak may interrupt provides.
The subcommittee would report its findings and suggestions to Lombardo and the Nevada Fee on Homeland Safety in 2026.
