PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island _ Between panels where he touted Nevada’s workforce development initiatives and a discussion among governors about the opioid epidemic, Gov. Brian Sandoval took a moment Thursday at the National Governor’s Association meeting in Providence, Rhode Island to talk with reporters.

A few highlights:

Gov. Brian Sandoval said he’s “bitterly disappointed” that electric car startup Faraday Future has decided not to continue building a $1 billion factory in North Las Vegas, but is taking them at their word that someday they’ll return and pick up where they left off.

The Republican governor made the comments Thursday in an interview at the National Governor’s Association summer meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. The company, primarily backed by Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting who has run into cash troubles, said Monday that they were halting their original plan, which was the subject of a special session and a $335 million incentive and infrastructure-building package.

“At the same time, I think the state is well-protected. The state won’t lose any money associated with that project,” he said. “I’m hopeful. I’ll take them at their word that later they will decide to build that factory at Apex.”

He pointed to a bill he signed from the 2017 session that might provide a way to bring water to Apex Industrial Park even though the original plan — financing infrastructure with new tax revenue the factory was expected to generate — fell through.

“That was, I think, the primary benefit of that special session,” he said.”You get the water, the power and the transportation pieces and suddenly you have a place where you can sell.”

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Sandoval explained his decision to give a preliminary sign-off last week to proposed emergency regulations that could open up recreational marijuana distribution beyond liquor distributors.

The Nevada Department of Taxation cited reports of businesses running low on marijuana as a reason for pursuing the rule change. While marijuana sales have been legal since July 1, it wasn’t until Wednesday that the first liquor distributor, Crooked Wines of Reno, was licensed.

“One is not enough to do the business throughout the entire state,” he said.

His decision allows the Nevada Tax Commission to set a process for determining whether there are sufficient liquor licensees in the distribution business to serve the entire market. If that process determines there aren’t enough, marijuana businesses could get in on distribution — the work of transporting marijuana from cultivators or manufacturers to retail stores.

The commission unanimously approved the rules on Thursday.

While Nevada dispensaries had long lines at the launch and reported strong sales, Sandoval confirmed he wasn’t among those celebrating the state’s newest legal vice.

“No,” he said. “I’ve never used marijuana in my entire life.”

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The governor was noncommittal on whether he would vow to uphold the Paris climate accord that the Trump Administration is abandoning.

About a dozen governors have signed on to the agreement, including the Republican governors of Vermont and Massachusetts.

“It’s something that I’ll look at,” he said.” But specific to Nevada, I think our record speaks for itself.”

He rattled off a list of clean energy bills he’d signed, including one to help restore the rooftop solar industry and promote battery storage.

“I’m already participating with a group of governors in that space,” he said. “I’m satisfied and proud of the position Nevada’s in with regard to clean energy.”