A "green jobs" initiative sought by Nevada Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford was endorsed Friday by a key legislative committee.
The Senate Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee voted unanimously for SB152, which would use federal stimulus funds to train about 3,200 people, fund weatherization of about 6,500 homes and upgrade government buildings and schools to make them more efficient.
The intent of SB152, now going to the Senate Finance Committee, is to reduce greenhouse emissions, lower energy costs and create workers for the renewable energy industry.
Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said legislators must still determine how much of the nearly $1.5 billion in federal stimulus money allocated to Nevada will go toward the initiative.
"I think it definitely sets a course for making this a reality here in the state to put people into training and getting skills they need to get back to work in the green economy," Horsford said.
During Friday's committee hearing, Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, questioned an amendment from Horsford that states employers could "offer" health care coverage to employees working on green projects. The bill's initial wording stated employers would provide the coverage.
Horsford said the change would ensure that costs of health care coverage wouldn't keep prospective employers from qualifying under the initiative. He said prevailing wages paid to employees should help offset medical costs.
With the amendment, Carlton said the bill "might not help as much as it would, but I understand health care is expensive," Carlton said.
Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, said details about employee wages and federal cost-effective standards that determine project eligibility for funding must be clear so that money is spent wisely.
"It's very important we know the rules when the money comes in. The last thing anybody wants is trouble over the fact that we put it in the wrong pot, or that we made a mistake," Townsend said.
Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, said the federal stimulus funds should be stretched until the economy reasonably recovers, and echoed concerns over what might happen to workers in green jobs after federal stimulus money for projects run out.
Nolan also said, "We are putting a big leap of faith in the private sector," referring to Horsford's statements that private companies will have the ability to create job opportunities beyond the scope of the initiative.
"This is potentially a flash in the pan for a short period of time," Nolan said. "We've got to take advantage of it, because if we don't there's 3,200 people or more who aren't going to be paid, who are going to become poor."