Nevada

NV Energy aggravates climate change

Published

2 years ago

May 10, 2024

Cathy and B Fulkerson
| Reno Gazette Journal

We feel blessed to have grown up in Reno, raised by parents who frequently took us on camping trips, picnics and hikes throughout the desert and mountains of Nevada. They instilled in us a sense of awe and reverence for the miracle of living among such natural wonder. We are deeply saddened to see that beauty slipping away, with half of our beloved Sagebrush alone destroyed in 40 years.

But our sadness turns to anger, knowing it could disappear forever if NV Energy and other Berkshire Hathaway-owned utilities continue to put their profits ahead of a clean energy transition.

When our great-grandparents escaped the Irish famine and landed in Wadsworth, the Truckee Meadows was surrounded by 600-year-old trees, with 40-pound trout from Pyramid Lake spawning up the Truckee River. Those trees and fish are not only gone, they are forgotten, decimated by dams, excessive pollution and logging for the Comstock mines.

The deer- and bear-laden forests that remain around Reno, and trout-filled Truckee River, also could be gone and forgotten by future generations, given the rapid pace of climate change and the lackluster response of NV Energy and others who have gone from climate deniers to climate pretenders.

Born in 1957 (Cathy) and 1960 (B), we are closer to the exit than the entrance. We know that the actions taken by those of us who are alive today will impact hundreds of generations to come. That’s why we are part of a growing movement in Nevada to protest NV Energy and to make sure our governor, Legislature and Public Utilities Commission force them to do the right thing.

Cathy is new to activism, stepping up in her retirement to work with other, older Nevadans who are also new to activism in order to harness the power of our generation.

B has engaged in traditional policy work — advocating for laws and regulations that protect the common good — for 40 years in Nevada, and sees this getting more difficult as the system is further rigged.

Our hometown of Reno is the fastest-warming city in America, with average summer temperatures that are 10.9° hotter than in 1970. Last year, we saw the deadliest wildfires in over a century, Florida seawater hitting 101-degree hot-tub levels, and the hottest summer ever recorded.

We are angry and disappointed that NV Energy continues to: 1) kill rooftop solar and thwart community solar; 2) bypass the Integrated Resource Planning process to install expensive, short-lived fossil fuel energy plants via amendments; and 3) use ratepayer funds to pay for employee bonuses, corporate lobbyists and lavish entertainment, all while planning a threefold increase in our monthly base rate.

Nevada rooftops aren’t blazoned with solar panels because NV Energy kills every clean energy proposal unless it can own and profit from it.

Corporations like NV Energy and Berkshire Hathaway are responsible for climate change, high energy burdens and political corruption. They work with trade associations, dark money networks and lobbyists who spend untold amounts of money in Nevada and nationally to buy politicians and block advances like community and rooftop solar.

We can end our dependence on burning things for energy and stabilize our climate in the process — but only if NV Energy, its parent company Berkshire Hathaway and their ilk stop putting their profits before the future of our planet.

Like millions around the globe, we feel that the greatest task of generations alive today is to give our grandchildren and future generations a shot at a livable planet by hastening a green energy transition and ending the burning of fossil fuels. Please join us, beginning with speaking out at next month’s consumer sessions before the Public Utilities Commission.

Cathy Fulkerson is the co-facilitator of Third Act Nevada and B Fulkerson is the lead national organizer for Third Act.

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Nevada

NDW invites all to learn more about bighorn

Published

1 hour ago

July 2, 2026

Press Room

NDW invites all to learn more about bighorn

For several years now, the Nevada Department of Wildlife has been on hand at Hemenway Park in the summer to answer questions and talk about Boulder City’s unofficial mascots.

The park’s resident bighorn sheep draw thousands of locals and visitors to the park each year, which is why NDW staff come out to talk about them and to view them in a safe manner.

Staff will be on hand every Sunday in July from 9 a.m. to noon.

“So far, we’ve had a great turnout, both in visitors and sheep,” said Lauren MacLeod, wildlife education coordinator for the NDW. “We kicked off our annual summer bighorn sheep outreach program in mid-June, and each morning has provided excellent opportunities for visitors to observe sheep and take photos through our spotting scope and binoculars. We’ve consistently observed around 30 sheep, including a couple of new lambs.”

MacLeod said many visitors are surprised to learn that these sheep regularly move between the River Mountain Range and Hemenway Park. Some of the most common questions they receive are why the sheep come to the park, whether they live there year-round, and questions relating to different behaviors people observe while watching them.

“We hope that it (program) offers an opportunity to connect Nevadans with one of our state’s most iconic wildlife species right in their own community and introduce tourists to one of the things that makes Nevada so special,” she said. “By sharing information about bighorn sheep biology, behavior, and conservation, we hope people gain a greater appreciation for these animals and the challenges they face.”

It’s also an opportunity for NDW to promote responsible wildlife viewing and provide visitors with the tools and knowledge needed to observe wildlife safely and respectfully.

In regard the number of visitors to the park, MacLeod said she’s often surprised… to a point.

“It’s easy to understand why they’re so popular,” she said. “Bighorn sheep typically inhabit remote, rugged mountain ranges, and even there – excellent camouflage allows them to fly under the radar undetected. There are not many places that you can go where a bighorn sheep sighting is almost guaranteed at the right time of year – especially somewhere as accessible as Hemenway Park.”

Although Hemenway’s bighorn sheep are more accustomed to people than a typical herd, they are still wild animals and can be dangerous when startled or stressed, she said. This is especially true during the breeding season, which begins during the summer months. During this times, males (rams) can become aggressive and territorial as they compete for dominance.

“They spar, charge and collide their heavy horns together with tremendous force,” she said. “It’s a fascinating sight to watch, but definitely not something you want to find yourself stuck in the middle of.

“If a sheep changes its behavior because of your presence, you’re too close. Binoculars, spotting scopes, and camera zoom lenses are great ways to get a closer look without disturbing the animals.”

The River Mountains herd has experienced a population decrease over the past decade, MacLeod said. In 2015, the population was estimated at nearly 300 sheep. Following a pneumonia outbreak, the population declined and is currently estimated to be closer to 150 animals.

Disease and climate change remain two of the greatest conservation challenges facing desert bighorn sheep throughout the West. While the population is smaller than it once was, biologists continue to monitor the herd and its overall health.

“Encouragingly, we’ve continued to observe lamb recruitment, including new lambs this year, which is an important indicator for the herd’s future,” she added.

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