Joint statement by ACEEE’s Jennifer Amann, ASAP’s Andrew deLaski, and SWEEP’s Tom Polikilas
Washington, DC—Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed AB54 into law this week, pushing back against the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back energy-saving light bulb standards by adopting federal standards into state law. The measure will safeguard millions of dollars in consumer savings from the federal government’s misguided attack on efficient light bulbs.
Jennifer Amann, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)’s buildings program director:
“Nevadans are helping to hold the line against the administration’s proposed rollback of light bulb standards. This bill will not only save Nevadans more than $85 million in electric bills, but it will also help reduce carbon equal to a year’s emissions from 60,000 cars from entering our atmosphere and destroying our climate.”
Andrew deLaski, Appliance Standards Awareness Project’s (ASAP) executive director:
“Just when the Trump administration seems dead set on a senseless rollback of federal light bulb standards, Nevada is joining other states in stepping into the breach to ensure their residents will get the energy- and bill-saving benefits of these commonsense standards.”
Tom Polikalas, Nevada Representative, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project’s (SWEEP)
“AB 54 will ensure that Nevadans obtain and benefit from energy-efficient light bulbs, even if the Trump Administration proceeds with its proposed rollback of efficiency standards on reflector and other specialty lamps. SWEEP applauds the Nevada Governor’s energy office for proposing this bill, and the legislature for adopting it.”
Nevada will become the fourth state after Vermont (H.411 from 2017), Washington (HB1444 enacted this month) and California (existing regulations already apply 2020 federal standards to some bulbs sold in state) to put the federal light bulb standards into state law.
A bill with the same anti-rollback measure (HB19-1231) is sitting on Colorado Governor Jared Polis' desk, and he is expected to sign it Thursday, May 30th.
California has a regulatory proceeding underway to expand the range of bulbs subject to their state standards to match the broader federal scope of coverage that the Trump DOE has proposed to eliminate.
Several other states are considering similar measures, at various stages of development.
According to ASAP, in 2025 alone, keeping the light bulb standards in place for Nevada will:
- Save Nevadans more than $85 million in electricity bills
- Save an average of $80 dollars per household
- Reduce global warming CO2 emissions by 280,000 metric tons, equal to a year’s emissions from 60,000 cars
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The Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) organizes and leads a broad-based coalition effort that works to advance, win, and defend new appliance, equipment, and lighting standards which deliver large energy and water savings, monetary savings, and environmental benefits.
The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a public-interest organization promoting greater energy efficiency in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. For more information about our programs and other work, please visit www.swenergy.org.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors.
