(Nevada News Service) Some Nevada laws going into effect this year aim to move the state's clean-energy goals forward and help reduce air pollution. 

Senate bill 448 aims to advance Nevada's goals of reaching 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2050. One of the provisions of that bill will also provide more charging stations for electric cars in lower-income neighborhoods. 

Senate bill 349 is a law that helped close the classic car loophole, that allowed some to get away with not doing annual smog checks on their older but non-classic cars. 

Angelyn Tabalba, communications director for the Nevada Conservation League, said it comes down to being a health priority for Nevadans.

"The thing with these older vehicles is that they are not as energy efficient," said Tabalba, "and they can put out nine to 18 times as much smog pollution as newer vehicles can."

According to a recent report from the American Lung Association, a transition to zero-emission trucks between 2020 and 2050 would benefit Clark County with an estimated $4.9 billion in public health benefits due to cleaner air - one of which would result in close to 10,000 fewer asthma attacks.

These Nevada state laws follow a directive by the Environmental Protection Agency which at the end of 2022 set out a rule to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 80 percent than the previous rule. 

Executive Director for the Nevada Conservation League Paul Selberg said they are geared up for Nevada's next legislative session, set to start in a couple of weeks, and are looking to continue prioritizing Nevada's clean, renewable-energy portfolio. 

"The transportation sector of Nevada is the largest greenhouse gas emitting sector in our state," said Selberg. "So anything we can do to help reduce smog, greenhouse-gas emissions, pollution in general, benefits our state."

Selberg said he hopes Nevada is able to keep its reputation as an incubator for investing, growing and expanding renewable energy across all sectors, and would like to see continued bipartisan support for further investment in protecting the environment.