By Sig Rogich

What do large corporations such as MGM Resorts International, Barrick USA and Dignity Health have in common with coffee shops, garage door companies, and web designers across Nevada? They’re supporting a bill to boost our state’s clean energy economy with investments in clean solar, wind and geothermal power.

Nevada employers of all sizes support Assembly Bill 206, which would ensure Nevada gets half its electricity from clean sources by 2030, because it makes sense – economic sense – for businesses large and small.

This stronger renewable standard meets a demand for clean energy expressed by businesses and residents. Poll after poll shows overwhelming majorities of voters support significantly increasing the amount of energy we get from clean sources. Meanwhile, companies such as Google and Apple have promised their customers 100 percent renewable energy. Our friendly business climate needs to be supported with abundant clean energy if we want to keep attracting innovators to our state.

Nevada’s current clean energy standard and abundant natural resources have already attracted more than $6 billion in renewable energy investment, but the state has the potential to bring in more than $5 billion in wages and create an additional 92,000 construction jobs if we fully embrace AB 206. That’s a boost that will be felt throughout the state’s economy, and will diversify and expand the industries of the “New Nevada.” We can continue to attract innovation in this area, but only if we enact policies that demonstrate our continued commitment to being a national, clean tech leader.

Nevadans are spending $600 million a year on out-of-state fossil fuels. With so much solar and geothermal potential here at home, we should not only end energy imports, but flip the script and export our local renewable energy resources to neighbors. It’s time to seize Nevada’s competitive energy advantage.

Natural gas prices are currently low, which means it’s likely they’ll increase in the years to come. On the contrary, the price of solar and other renewables never changes. Since 2010, the cost of solar power has dropped 53 percent. In fact, NV Energy’s most recent solar contracts were the least expensive of any energy source in the nation. With clean energy less expensive than ever before, investing in renewables now will pay off in the long run and ensure consumers have reliable energy prices for decades.

We know a strong renewable standard is the best way to encourage the clean energy development and innovation we need. We’ve seen it work before, including right here in Nevada: We were one of the first states in the country to adopt such a standard. It’s time to look to the future and think about the next generation of economic development for our state.

Nothing can hide the enthusiasm of Nevada’s business community for a stronger clean energy standard. Given competitive pricing and our state’s unique bounty of natural resources, reaching 50 percent renewables by 2030 is not only reasonable, it’s common sense and good economics. By passing AB 206, we will ensure that the state’s economic future remains bright.

Sig Rogich, a Las Vegas-based consultant, is a former United States ambassador to Iceland and was assistant to two presidents, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He also is on the board of the Clean Energy Project.