All In Clark County climate collaborative updates North Las Vegas on emissions inventory, outreach and energy strategies

City staff and regional partners on June 18 briefed the North Las Vegas City Council on the All In Clark County Regional Climate Collaborative’s recent work, including an updated greenhouse‑gas inventory, a community ambassador outreach program, and regional priorities such as building energy efficiency and distributed solar.

Veronica Freeman, grant officer representing North Las Vegas on the collaborative, told the council she has “had the distinct pleasure of representing the city of North Las Vegas as a member of the Regional Climate Collaborative” for nearly two years and introduced Clark County staff who led the presentation.

Jody Bechtel, assistant director with the Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability, said the collaborative has updated the countywide greenhouse‑gas inventory with 2022 data and that buildings (including energy supplied to buildings) are the largest local emissions source, followed by on‑road transportation. “Our largest emissions come from buildings and supplying energy to our buildings, and second to buildings is, transportation,” Bechtel said.

Robert Bergey, the program manager for climate and sustainability, described implementation efforts and past grant applications. The group submitted a large application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeking funding for a regional building improvement hub to help homeowners and building owners access assessments, rebates and contractors; the hub application was not funded but the collaborative plans to repurpose lessons and materials for smaller or phased projects. Bergey noted the region has seen growth in rooftop and distributed solar installations and that increased energy efficiency combined with cleaner electricity offers an accelerated pathway to emissions reductions.

The collaborative highlighted a community outreach program that hired 15 ambassadors to staff events, host webinars and distribute toolkits. Staff reported more than 100 community events over the last year and direct contact with 17,869 people; the outreach program’s initial term ends June 30 and staff said they plan to continue it for an additional year. Staff also reported public survey results indicating broad concern about climate change but some decline in stated willingness to adopt electrification and renewable‑energy options between the first and second surveys.

Council members asked about materials in languages other than English, event participation and how city events can coordinate with the ambassador program. Council members also raised tree‑canopy, cool‑pavement and xeriscape demonstration ideas; staff described regional programs including tree giveaways targeted to underserved, heat‑vulnerable areas and an emerging resilience hub planned near Nellis intended as a cooling center with battery storage and vegetation.

The presenters provided several outreach and technical resources (webinars, action toolkits, an incentives summary and the updated inventory) and offered to follow up with council offices to share materials and coordinate ambassador participation at neighborhood events.

Ending: The collaborative’s materials and webinar schedule are available to city staff for distribution; council members asked staff to follow up about ambassadors and incentive program information for residents.