Nevada Energy Summary
This page provides a summary of energy in Nevada. Here you will find an overview of energy consumption, listing of energy efficiency goals under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, and a list of political leaders and state agency administrators who shape energy policy for Nevada. You can link to the following subheadings on this page:
- Executive summary
- Economic and demographic facts that affect energy consumption
- Status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies
Executive Summary
Total Energy Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005 and EPAct Goal for Nevada
(million Btu)
Section 123 of EPAct requires states to set an energy conservation goal that is 25% below 1990 consumption. DOE is currently considering a per capita goal among other options.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration State Energy Price, Expenditure, and Consumption Estimates (SEDS) database. Note, that 2005 is the latest year for which state-by-state data is available.
Nevada is the fastest growing state in the country for population (4.4% per year growth rate), economic growth (8% per year), and electricity consumption (4.5% per year). As a result, the state faces many challenges meeting its growing demand for energy infrastructure. The state has few fossil resources.
Read a more complete energy summary for Nevada, including consumption and production statistics for fossil fuels on the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) Nevada Energy Profile.
| Total energy consumption per capita | 302 (million Btu) |
State rank | 38 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAct per capita goal for 2012 | 249.7 (million Btu) |
State rank | 26 |
| Average annual increase in total energy consumption | -0.7% | State rank | 49 |
Electricity
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
(trillion Btu)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
| Annual growth of electricity consumption | 4.5% | State rank | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity production from nonhydro renewable energy | 1,412 (million kWh) |
State rank | 21 |
Nevada has a traditional regulated market for electric power. Several high-voltage transmission lines cross Nevada to bring power to California. Currently, 7% of the state's electricity derives from geothermal power plants, and the state is second only to California in geothermal potential.
Read more Nevada electric power and renewable energy statistics published by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Transportation
Motor Gasoline Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005
(gallons)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
Transportation accounts for 33% of all energy consumption in Nevada, which makes it the largest energy-consuming sector of the state economy. You can find data about the consumption of alternative fuels in Nevada from the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.
| Motor gasoline consumption per capita | 473 (gallons) |
State rank | 32 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol consumption | 53,004,809 (gallons) |
State rank | 27 |
| Number of alternative fuel stations | 68 | State rank | 7 |
| Population | 2,409,000 | State rank | 35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent urban population | 85.7% | State rank | 12 |
| Annual population growth rate | 4.3% | State rank | 1 |
| Per capita personal income | $35,744 | State rank | 15 |
| Gross state product | $118,399 (million) |
State rank | 31 |
Economic and Demographic Facts that Affect Energy Consumption
The following statistics for Nevada put energy consumption into perspective in the context of the state economy and the size and growth of the population.
Status of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies
Nevada has the following state-level policies and incentives in place that support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The links give detailed explanations of the policies and incentives published online by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
Building energy codes for energy efficiency
Nevada’s residential and commercial building energy code uses the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as mandatory for all jurisdictions that have not adopted an energy code. Jurisdictions in southern Nevada have adopted the 2006 Southern Nevada Energy Code, which is based on IECC-2006 with amendments.
Rebates for renewable energy
The SolarGenerations PV Rebate program will begin providing rebates to commercial entities, residents, state government, schools, non-profits and local governments during the summer of 2008.
Renewable portfolio standard for renewable energy
Nevada requires investor-owned utilities obtain 6% of their electricity from renewable energy resources in 2005, rising to 20% by 2015, with 5% of the requirement coming from solar.
State standards for public buildings for energy efficiency
The Nevada State Energy Office has an energy reduction plan for state agencies, departments, and other entities in the executive branch to reduce grid-based energy purchases for state-owned buildings by 20% by 2015.
