Nevada
Clean energy homes cut energy bills and pollution. So why is it so hard to buy one in Nevada? – The Nevada Independent
Final yr I set out to make my dream of homeownership come true — and to discover a clear vitality dwelling in Nevada.
Clear vitality properties, which pair extremely environment friendly electrical home equipment with rooftop photo voltaic, are shortly changing into staples throughout the US, as homebuyers are lured by the numerous financial, air high quality and local weather advantages. Glenn Kelman, CEO of actual property powerhouse Redfin, lately declared that 2022 could be the yr of the all-electric dwelling, and that our use of fossil fuels for cooking and heating will quickly be a factor of the previous.
So how troublesome may it’s to purchase a clear vitality dwelling in Nevada?
Fairly troublesome, it seems — nearly from the get-go, my realtor and I bumped into challenges. We started by scouring the world for present clear vitality properties, and located only a few in the marketplace. The red-hot actual property market in Southern Nevada additionally implies that many properties are snapped up nearly as quickly as they’re listed.
Feeling discouraged however removed from defeated, we turned to constructing a brand new dwelling from the bottom up, and commenced reaching out to contractors. You would possibly suppose that constructing a house would enable the homebuyer to decide on all electrical home equipment in the event that they’d like. Sadly, that’s typically not the case.
Many dwelling builders throughout Nevada work with a set of three to 4 dwelling designs that potential homebuyers can select from — an comprehensible selection that delivers actual financial advantages for each builders and homebuyers. However a lot to my dismay, most new properties in Nevada don’t provide a clean-energy design choice, regardless that these properties may really be extra reasonably priced to construct and function.
Constructing with out the costly piping that connects new properties to the fuel system can shave $4,000 to $5,000 off of the price, in response to a brand new examine by the Southwest Vitality Effectivity Undertaking. Newer electrical applied sciences like induction cooktops and warmth pump water heaters and area heaters carry out simply as effectively or higher than their fuel counterparts. And all-electric new properties are cheaper to construct and function within the Southwest, with decrease utility payments resulting in vital long-term financial savings.
Along with the monetary advantages, a clear vitality dwelling is far more healthy and extra environmentally pleasant. For brand new properties and retrofits in Nevada, utilizing environment friendly electrical warmth pump expertise will lead to 50-60% reductions in greenhouse fuel emissions. Fuel is a robust fossil gas, and when burned indoors it may well create harmful ranges of air air pollution. It’s no surprise that increasingly householders are fascinated by these choices as soon as they find out about them.
Happily, the builder I selected, Lennar, did provide an choice to construct with rooftop photo voltaic and an electrical automobile charging station, exhibiting that rising demand for extra sustainable residing is having an affect on the choices obtainable. Sadly, they don’t provide a gas-free design. That implies that to wind up with a clear vitality dwelling, I’ve to construct with fuel, after which instantly retrofit my model new dwelling to run on clear electrical energy. As an alternative of saving cash, it will add hundreds of {dollars} in extra prices that might have simply been prevented by constructing gas-free from the get-go.
It shouldn’t be this troublesome to decide on electrical home equipment. Fuel corporations have used aggressive advertising to construct and preserve demand for his or her merchandise, and are actually deceptive individuals concerning the impacts of the fossil gas they promote. They’ve additionally blocked cleaner constructing codes and handed legal guidelines in different states to limit buyer decisions.
With client curiosity skyrocketing, builders should increase the variety of clear vitality properties in the marketplace. This effort can ship main financial advantages for our state, which is struggling to offer reasonably priced housing. In line with a latest evaluation from Rewiring America, Nevada households would save as much as $342 per yr on their vitality payments by utilizing trendy, electrical home equipment.
Nevada policymakers have taken motion to make sure our buildings are extra water and vitality sensible, however extra will be completed. Proper now, Clark County, dwelling to roughly 70% of Nevada’s inhabitants, has a key alternative to increase entry to scrub vitality properties by means of its All-In Clark County sustainability planning course of. By setting requirements that be sure that buildings can simply plug into our clear vitality future, Clark County can reduce air pollution, decrease utility payments, and guarantee households will not be saddled with costly retrofits in coming a long time to take away fuel home equipment, as our state charts a path to assembly its local weather targets.
My lengthy journey to homeownership is sort of over — I lately received the keys to my new dwelling and am about to maneuver in. However we’re simply getting began with regards to making clear vitality properties a actuality for extra Nevadans. Homebuyers need to purchase them, and realtors need to promote them. It’s time to deal with this difficulty for the advantage of us all.
Paul Selberg is the manager director of the Nevada Conservation League, a company devoted to advancing pro-conservation and environmentally centered insurance policies.
Nevada
Baby's Bounty announce dates for January diaper banks across Nevada
(KTNV) — Baby’s Bounty is once again hosting multiple diaper banks statewide for families in need of these supplies for their children.
Families will be able to receive a week’s worth of diapers and wipes for up to three children.
You must provide a photo ID and proof of parental paperwork (birth certificate, Medicaid card, crib card, social security card, foster or adoption paperwork) to utilize these services.
Henderson:
📍Location: Morell Park – 500 Harris St, Henderson
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8
⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
🚙 Drive-thru bank
Registration is required and can be found here.
Las Vegas:
📍Location: Baby’s Bounty Center for Families – 4495 W Reno Ave, Las Vegas
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Jan. 22
⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
🚙 Drive-thru bank
Registration is required and can be found here.
📍Location: Las Vegas Indian Center – 2300 W Bonanza Rd, Las Vegas
🗓️ Date: Thursday, Jan. 30
⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
🚚 Mobile bank
North Las Vegas:
📍Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Senior Center – 2420 N MLK Blvd, North Las Vegas
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Jan. 15
⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
🚙 Drive-thru bank
Registration is required and can be found here.
Reno/Sparks:
📍Location: Baby’s Bounty Northern Nevada – 1410 Greg St, #409, Sparks
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Jan. 29
⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
🚙 Drive-thru bank
Registration is required and can be found here.
Mesquite:
📍Location: Salvation Army Mesquite – 742 W Pioneer Blvd, Mesquite
🗓️ Date: Friday, Jan. 31
⏰ Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
🚚 Mobile bank
Positively Las Vegas on Channel 13
Nevada
True dual threat Braylon Wilson is hidden 2026 Nevada gem
Playing quarterback can be as simple as zipping the pigskin around the yard, being the guy who can move the chains on the ground when needed, or a leader who can do a little bit of both with the run and the pass. At Reno High School, Braylon Wilson (6-2, 195) excels in all facets of the game displaying a smooth throwing motion, a rocket arm, has the wheels and will truck DBs, and is willing to be that guy putting his team on his back leading them to victory.
The Class of 2026 talent was acknowledged for his play on the field and in the classroom being an All-State Academic selection after throwing for 2,268 yards with 21 touchdowns and rushing for 677 yards with eight more scores in 10 games played after two regular season games were cancelled.
“We run an Air Raid offense,” Wilson stated. “Carson Strong is our offensive coordinator; he previously played at Nevada. He brought a lot of what he ran at Nevada to our offense. He was airing it out there and throwing a lot in each game. At the start of the season we were throwing a lot, over 30 times a game a couple of times. Towards the end of the season, we became more balanced run to pass.”
Wilson continued, “The main routes were over the middle-crossers, dagger routes, posts, a lot of drags, we were big on the crossers because we had a lot of speed at receiver, some outs, and goes; those were our main routes.”
Asked what sets him apart from other quarterbacks in his class, Wilson replied, “I think the biggest thing is the confidence I have in my abilities and my athleticism. I know I can make any play. Will I make all of them, no, but I trust myself that I can make any play. The mindset helps sets me apart.”
In between basketball games and practices, Wilson continues to fine-tune his craft.
“I work with Carson at least once a week and I am working with Cody Fijardo; those are the two main ones I work with,” Wilson shared. “I throw with my receivers during the week. The biggest thing I am cleaning up for next season is my footwork, my reads, and my decision making; I am trying to not do too much. Last year, sometimes, I tried to do it all myself, which can lead to negative plays. I have to keep the explosive and positive plays and limit the negative ones.”
Colorado State, Nevada, Hawaii, Sacramento State, Colorado School of Mines, New Mexico Highland, and Columbia are among the teams recruiting Wilson.
The Rams welcomed Wilson to campus this fall.
“It went well,” Wilson said. “I talked to their coaches, and I saw the program. I camped there last summer, that wasn’t my first time there, but it was great to see everything. I talked to coach Chad Savage, he’s their recruiting coordinator and receivers coach; it was really cool.
“All of Carson’s coaches moved to Colorado State; they run a similar offense to us. It was really cool to watch them run the same concepts. They got a big win over San Jose State. It was cool to see them doing something similar to my team and being successful.”
The Wolf Pack got the backyard talent in for a game as well.
“It was cool to get a closer look at Nevada,” Wilson stated. “Growing up, I have gone to a lot of Nevada games; on the visit I got to see the culture, their facilities, and I was learning about the coaching staff. It has been a struggle there for about 10 years, they are trying to change that; it was cool to see.”
Fans and college scouts will get to see more of Wilson’s live arm and talents this offseason on the 7-on-7 circuit with TMP (Sacramento, CA).
Nevada
Real-money 5-card draw poker app launches in Nevada, more gaming news
JETT/Terrible’s Gaming announced the launch of Terrible’s Mobile Gaming, a new real-money five-card draw poker app available in Nevada, according to a press release.
The multi-player game includes features such as Royal Flush bonuses of up to $4,500 and four-of-a-kind payouts up to $175. To celebrate the app’s launch, Terrible’s Mobile Gaming is offering a deposit match of up to $500 each week.
Terrible’s Mobile Gaming is available for download on iOS and Android devices.
“JETT/Terrible’s Gaming and the Terrible’s brand in general have been making life more convenient for Nevadans for over 65 years,” said Tim Herbst, president of JETT Gaming & Terrible Herbst Inc. in a statement. “Now, we are excited to bring that same level of convenience to mobile gaming—delivering the excitement of Multi-Player 5 Card Draw Poker directly to our customers, wherever they are, and within the palm of their hand.”
The app is available in collaboration with Real Gaming, the igaming platform co-founded by South Point casino-hotel owner Michael Gaughan and tech entrepreneur Lawrence Vaughan.
“Nevada players know that both the JETT Gaming and Terrible’s Gaming brands mean convenience, and that’s exactly what we’ve delivered,” Vaughan said in the news release.
Culinary Local 226 ratifies Fontainebleau Las Vegas labor contract
Members of Culinary Union Local 226 recently voted to ratify a labor contract with Fontainebleau Las Vegas. According to the union, 99.6 percent voted in favor of the labor deal.
The new contract covers nearly 3,300 non-gaming employees at the Fontainebleau casino-hotel, located at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip. It is the first labor contract with the new resort, which opened in December 2023.
According to previous reports, the Culinary workers’ contract is for slightly less than five years, timed to match the span of the citywide contracts agreed to at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 with other Strip operators.
The deal with Fontainebleau comes as Culinary Local 226 workers at the off-Strip Virgin casino-hotel have been striking for more than seven weeks. The union rejected the casino-hotel’s invitation to arbitration in late December.
Sports wagering
Two U.S. states that haven’t legalized sports wagering are making efforts to win approval in 2025.
Oklahoma state Sen. Dave Rader has introduced legislation in the Sooner state to modify the state’s compact with tribal casinos there to allow betting on sports. The bill’s first reading is scheduled Feb. 3.
Under Rader’s proposal, tribes would be required to pay the state 5 percent of the first $5 million in gross gaming revenue, 6 percent of the next $5 million and 7 percent for any revenue over $10 million as a fee.
A bill introduced in Oklahoma last year never made it out of committee.
In Minnesota, state Sen. Matt Klein said he will reintroduce a bill that failed to win approval last year early in that state’s legislative session. The session opens Jan. 14 in St. Paul.
Bill opponents have blocked passage because of fears of gambling addiction and family bankruptcies. Klein said his legislation has protections that would make it the safest sports-betting law in the country.
Washington D.C. and 38 U.S. states have legalized sports wagering and Missouri is establishing rules and regulations to begin this year.
Raising the age limit
New Hampshire lawmakers will consider raising the minimum age to place a sports bet from 18 to 21 under a bill that is expected to be reviewed Wednesday by the state’s House Ways and Means Committee.
New Hampshire is one of seven states and Washington D.C. that set the minimum gambling age at 18 and most neighboring states — Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, and New York — have 21 as their minimum age.
If signed into law, the bill would likely take effect in mid-2026. Lawmakers will take into consideration the possible loss of $640,000 a year in gaming revenue with the age increase.
DraftKings is the only online sports-betting option in the state.
Macao
Gross gaming revenue in Macao totaled $28.3 billion (U.S.) in 2024, a 23.9 percent increase over 2023, the special administrative region’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reported last week.
December revenue of $2.3 billion was off 2 percent from a year ago and was the first month in 2024 to have less monthly revenue than in the previous year.
October was the strongest month of the year with revenue of $2.6 billion.
By comparison, Nevada’s October gaming revenue total was $1.286 billion.
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