SWEEP Recognizes Two Nevada Legislators and Arizona Public Interest Attorney for Leadership in Energy Efficiency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2017

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(Las Vegas, NV) Nov. 21, 2017 – The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) today presented 2017 Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards to Nevada State Senator Pat Spearman and Nevada Assemblyman William McCurdy II. Senator Spearman is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 150 and Assemblyman McCurdy is the primary sponsor of Assembly Bill 223—two bills that significantly improve energy efficiency policy in Nevada. The Nevada legislature adopted both bills earlier this year with strong bipartisan support.

“SWEEP is extremely grateful to Senator Spearman and Assemblyman McCurdy for sponsoring the bills and shepherding them through the legislative process,” said Howard Geller, executive director of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), a public interest organization advocating for greater energy efficiency across the Southwest.

The legislation sponsored by Senator Spearman and Assemblyman McCurdy will lead to more comprehensive and effective energy efficiency programs run by NV Energy, Nevada’s main electric utility. As a result, households and businesses in Nevada should save hundreds of millions of dollars on their utility bills over the next decade.

“The legislation will be especially helpful to low-income households as it requires NV Energy to dedicate at least five percent of its overall energy efficiency budget to programs targeted to low-income customers,” Geller noted.

Later this month, SWEEP will present a third Leadership in Energy Efficiency Award to Tim Hogan, the executive director of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest (ACLPI). Tim Hogan has assisted SWEEP in advancing energy efficiency policies for Arizona’s electric and gas utilities for the past 15 years. Tim provides legal representation for SWEEP before the Arizona Corporation Commission and in other forums. After decades of service, Tim is stepping down as ACLPI’s executive director at the end of 2017.

“SWEEP has been successful in advocating for policies that have resulted in Arizona’s utilities implementing some of the most effective energy efficiency programs in the nation. We could not have accomplished this without Tim Hogan’s invaluable support and assistance,” said Geller.