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Washington - Years from now, when Nevadans wonder why their state and others abandoned coal plants in favor of renewable energy, they are likely to remember these days. Washington is moving aggressively if sometimes in unseen ways to remake the nation's energy landscape. Intricate pieces of legislation are unfolding on Capitol Hill that would radically alter the nation's energy policy, one bill at a time. The big-ticket items are well known: cap-and trade legislation, for example, which would put a price tag on carbon emissions; a bill requiring that more of the nation's energy come from renewable sources, as President Barack Obama promises.

The House and Senate conferees have reached a deal on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The agreement was reached late last night and has cut the total value of the bill to US $789 billion. The bill will be a boon for the renewable energy industry. All of the provisions that were contained in the Senate version of the bill were retained. In addition, the grants in lieu of tax credits clause that the House version of the bill contained made the final package.

Assembly bill would tax renewable energy exported from Nevada.

Carson City - Nevada has handed out tax incentives worth an estimated $45 million to lure solar and geothermal projects to Nevada over the past four years. So far, the state has received in return promises that the projects' developers will create 89 permanent jobs. It's a number so small that some lawmakers are questioning whether taxpayers are getting a good return on their investment in the incentives.

Rooftops covered in solar panels. Miles of mirrors in the desert. Renewable energy boosters evoke both images while touting the coming green economy. But current market forces appear to favor the latter - large-scale utility plants.

The appointment on Rep. Dina Titus' calendar last Saturday didn't appear controversial at first glance. Yet Titus soon realized that she was wading into a political firestorm.

The House passed the conference report (246Y/183N) on Friday, February 13, with the Senate taking a vote at some point this weekend. President Obama will then sign the legislation on President's Day. Information is slowly emerging on the details of the conference report between the House and Senate. NCSL will update this page as information becomes available.