By Barry Thalden

As a Las Vegas architect who has worked on over one-hundred casino projects, I know something that tends to surprise people: Las Vegas casinos are sustainability leaders on many fronts, from saving water and embracing recycling to purchasing renewable energy.

But surprisingly, some of Nevada’s most prominent resorts are suddenly trying to slam the brakes on a clean energy measure that represents a tremendous opportunity for the state: AB206, a new Renewable Portfolio Standard that would require 80 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2040. It has been reported that last week the Nevada Resort Association, Wynn Resorts, and Las Vegas Sands all sent lobbyists to Carson City to testify against this ambitious but achievable clean-energy goal.

World-class resorts embrace world-class technology. And in 2017, that means renewable energy. That’s especially true for Las Vegas, where solar power is such a natural and obvious fit. Nevada has blue skies, sun and vast deserts; a free source of energy is falling from the sky five out of seven days of the year (Las Vegas is one of the top five sunniest cities in the U.S.). And the cost for solar panels that capture that energy continues to plummet, while the cost of outmoded dirty fuels will continue to grow. Gaming is a high-tech industry; it’s always looking for better technologies. So it’s no wonder several big resort companies recently agreed to pay hefty fees for the right to leave NV Energy and go their own way on energy.

Las Vegas Sands understands smart energy is smart business. They have stated that its casino floors are 90-percent LED-lit. Its Palazzo property is one of the largest LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green buildings in the country. From cleaning to recycling, sustainable practices are firmly in place. And when Question 3 — a constitutional amendment designed to end NV Energy’s monopoly — was put on the ballot, the Sands strongly supported it, promising it would lead to more renewable energy for Nevadans.

All of which makes the Sands’ decision to oppose a more ambitious renewable portfolio standard especially disturbing. Nevadans are proud of the clean air that keeps tourists coming back. Hospitality is the lifeblood of Las Vegas, and resorts have a financial interest in doing everything possible to encourage a better environment for their guests. That means moving away from dirty fuels that make dirty air.

Other states with big hospitality sectors understand this. Hawaii is aiming for 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. California’s target is 50 percent renewable power by 2030.

Solar also strengthens Nevada’s economy. With no significant oil or gas reserves, the state imports most of its energy, which means sending money out of state. Solar is sunny Nevada’s path to greater energy independence, and to keeping energy dollars circulating in-state to enhance local economies and create local jobs.

A lot of local jobs. The solar industry already employs more people than oil, coal and gas combined, even though it only represents a smaller (but rapidly growing) portion of our energy economy. One out of 50 new US jobs came from the solar industry in 2016. Think of how many jobs Nevada could create while building our own energy resources.  

There’s no gamble here. It’s no surprise that polls show Nevadans overwhelmingly support clean energy. Las Vegas’ landmark companies have a responsibility to support policies that are smart for Nevadans.

As an architect, I have found that the most successful projects happen when you create places people really want to be. A Nevada that is 80 percent powered by renewable energy would be a world leader in clean energy with a stronger economy, more reliable and affordable energy, and a cleaner environment. That would be a place people really want to be.

Barry Thalden founded Thalden Boyd Emery Architects, one of the leading hospitality design firms in the country with years of experience in designing casino resorts. He lived in Las Vegas for 15 years, during which time he worked on many of the famous casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

Feature photo: Electricians David Livingston, left, and Mario Rojas with 1 Sun Solar inspects solar panels in Las Vegas on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Photo by Jeff Scheid.