Southwest Gas increase Nevada political contributions in 2022

Southwest Gas elevated its political giving in Nevada this election cycle, surpassing contribution ranges for earlier cycles in current years. According to the newest marketing campaign finance reviews, the fuel firm spent over $400,000 this marketing campaign season, which is up greater than $130,000 from the 2020 cycle and over $160,000 from the 2018 cycle.

During the 2021 legislative session, Southwest Gas lobbied towards laws that will have directed the utility to submit projections of its infrastructure investments, gasoline demand, and requested regulators to compile reviews on the fuel utilities’ function in decreasing emissions. greenhouse. Southwest Gas additionally launched a invoice, held by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, that will enable the fuel utility to exchange hundreds of miles of pipeline and recoup the prices by way of a month-to-month charge. The invoice didn’t go both. Currently, the corporate is searching for to provide extra “renewable natural gas” to the Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission and should be a part of its business friends in advancing laws that forestalls municipalities and counties from decreasing greenhouse fuel emissions. stopping new fuel infrastructure and connections.

Southwest Gas contributing to particular person political candidates

Nevada marketing campaign finance regulation limits Southwest Gas to contributing $10,000 to a candidate ($5,000 for the first and $5,000 for the overall election) per two-year election cycle. All however one of many recipients of Southwest Gas contributions totaling $10,000 are members of the Democratic Party in quite a few municipal and state places of work. Democrats management each homes of the Nevada legislature.

EPI reported on Southwest Gas’ notable contributions main as much as Nevada’s June major. In March, Southwest Gas gave $10,000 — its largest contribution on the time — to Assemblywoman Lesley Cohen’s Democratic major challenger, Joe Dalia. Residents in Cohen’s district additionally started receiving political mailers smearing Cohen. The mailers had been paid by the primary group Nevadans for Economic Opportunity (NEO), a 501(c)(4) “pro-growth, public policy” coalition financially supported by the Retail Association of Nevada (RAN) and Associated Builders and Among others, Nevada contractors. The RAN handle can also be the identical for NEOs in the state’s marketing campaign finance disclosure database.

In 2021, Cohen launched AB380, laws that will require fuel utilities to make use of a extra rigorous planning course of earlier than increasing infrastructure. Southwest Gas constructed a coalition of associated curiosity teams to defeat the laws. The utility’s lobbying marketing campaign included the creation of a now-disbanded entrance group, the Coalition for Cleaner, Affordable Energy. The group sponsored Facebook content material on “Stop AB380” and featured RAN Senior Vice President Bryan Wachter falsely framing the local weather invoice as a ban on fossil fuel home equipment. Cohen received her election in June and might be on the poll on November 8.

Over the previous cycle, three Democratic members of the Nevada Assembly have acquired $10,000 from Southwest Gas, together with Steve Yeager, Elaine Marzola and Daniele Monroe-Moreno. Yeager is Speaker professional Tempore and Monroe-Moreno is Assistant Majority Floor Leader. Republican Gregory Hafen II, who additionally acquired a complete of $10,000, is Assistant Minority Whip.

Southwest Gas contributing to the vast majority of members on the Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure

In addition to their management roles, Monroe-Moreno is chairman and Yeager is a member of the Growth and Infrastructure Committee, offering jurisdiction over power points, amongst different associated issues. In 2019, the committee additionally voted to approve laws requiring the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) to undertake rules permitting Southwest Gas to buy and get better the fee for “renewable natural gas” (RNG).

The committee’s oversight additionally consists of the Department of Transportation (NDOT), the entity dealing with the way forward for Nevada’s transportation system, which has recognized Southwest Gas as a key stakeholder in transportation planning processes. In August 2022, Southwest Gas submitted a request to the PUCN, searching for an increase in the usage of RNG in its procurement settlement with the Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). The request comes after Governor Sisolak launched the Nevada State Climate Initiative in the summer time of 2020 to assist the state attain its targets of decreasing emissions by 28% by 2025, 45% by 2030 and internet zero or close to zero. zero by 2050. Many reviews have been launched in current years detailing the pitfalls of RNG development resulting from system-wide methane leakage.

This cycle, Southwest Gas has contributed over $40,000 to 7 of the 11 members of the Growth and Infrastructure Committee, together with Democrats Shondra Summers-Armstrong, Cameron Miller, Tracy Brown-May and Republicans Tom Roberts and Glen Leavitt.

Southwest Gas contributing members of the House Trade and Labor Committee

Elaine Marzola – recipient of $10,000 from Southwest Gas – serves on the Commerce and Labor Committee in the Nevada Assembly. Southwest Gas has contributed almost $35,000 to 7 of its 13 members, together with $7,500 to Committee Chairwoman Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui.

The Commerce and Labor Committee votes on payments affecting Southwest Gas. In 2015, this committee superior laws requiring the PUCN to undertake rules authorizing the growth of Southwest Gas’ infrastructure, which has resulted in the $28 million Mesquite growth mission and the $62 million Spring Creek growth mission.

Clark County Commissioners race supporting Southwest Gas

In 2019, Nevada’s Clark County Board of Commissioners – which incorporates Las Vegas – developed and adopted its first Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. All-in Clark County. The plan consists of zero emissions from buildings by 2050, citing the necessity to shift operational power from fossil fuel to scrub and renewable power. Currently, 62% of Clark County’s electrical energy is generated by fuel, which means the plan may considerably influence Southwest Gas’ present and deliberate infrastructure investments. Southwest Gas is listed as an celebration in the All-in Clark County plan and took part in the interview course of for the GHG Inventory, the Climate Vulnerability Assessment Working Group, and quite a few neighborhood roundtables.

Southwest Gas contributed over $20,000 to a number of Clark County Commissioners this cycle, together with one that’s on the Nov. 8 poll. The subsequent stage Everything inside the plan consists of growing a regional greenhouse fuel stock and local weather vulnerability evaluation, which requires approval by the Clark County Board of Commissioners.

Southwest Gas spending on political motion committees in Nevada

In addition to giving to particular person candidates, Southwest Gas contributed $129,000 to Nevada political motion committees (PACs) this cycle. These PACs then share the funds they’ve raised and donate to campaigns for or towards the candidates. Some of the PACs that acquired cash from Southwest Gas are affiliated with commerce associations and chambers of commerce. These teams could be a part of the fuel firm in future lobbying campaigns.

Southwest Gas contributed $15,000 to Home Building PAC, the political motion committee for the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association (SNHBA). Southwest Gas workers Philip Conors and Tony Stipanov sit on the SNHBA board as affiliate director and senior director, respectively. Further, a report by EPI earlier this yr concerning the “future of gas” docks at PUCN detailed SNHBA’s filed feedback highlighting considerations about electrification in buildings. Southwest Gas is a member of the SNHBA, paying an annual membership charge of a minimum of $1,592.

The Vegas Chamber of Commerce’s BizPac acquired $15,000 from Southwest Gas this yr. Boyd Nelson, VP of Strategy and Corporate Development at Southwest Gas, sits on the Vegas Chamber Board of Trustees. Debra Gallo, Director of Regulatory Projects at Southwest Gas, can also be Chair of BizPAC and serves on the Government Affairs Committee.

Southwest Gas additionally contributed to PACs registered with state legislators. Nevada Victory PAC, acquired $10,000 from Southwest Gas and is registered with Assemblywoman Melissa Hardy, a Republican member of the Commerce and Labor Committee. Hardy additionally acquired a further $2,500 from Southwest Gas as a person contribution.

Southwest Gas gave $10,000 to Steve Yeager’s NV Strong PAC. As talked about earlier, Yeager is a member of the Growth and Infrastructure Committee and acquired a further $10,000 from the society as a person contribution.

Southwest Gas contributed $6,000 on to Rochelle Nguyen, in addition to contributing $10,000 to the Nguyen Leadership PAC. In addition, Southwest Gas gave $10,000 to Senator Nicole Cannizzaro’s PAC – Leadership Born and Raised in Battle. The PAC primarily contributes to Democratic candidates campaigning for the Nevada State Assembly.

Heidi Kasama, a Republican assemblywoman, acquired $5,000 from Southwest Gas this yr, and her political motion committee, Hawk PAC, acquired a further $5,000.

Featured Image: Nevada Legislature Building, Carson City, Nevada. Source: Ken Lund, Flickr.