Governor’s Office of Energy Moving Forward with Energy Independence Plan
When Democrats blocked her energy independence bill in the Nevada Legislature, Dr. Robin Titus thought her plan to free Nevada from California’s expensive fuel might be dead. She was wrong.
The Governor’s Office of Energy is now moving forward with her concepts for breaking Nevada’s dangerous dependence on California fuel – even without legislative approval.
Dr. Titus is excited about this development. She’s a Republican state senator and family doctor who spent 37 years serving rural Nevada. She recently shared her enthusiasm:
“Although the Democrats would not give my SB505 bill a hearing, I am very excited to see Governor Lombardo’s Office of Energy moving forward with my concepts.”
Although the Democrats would not give my SB505 bill a hearing, I am very excited to see Governor Lombardo’s Office of Energy moving forward with my concepts. We need to continue to build our energy infrastructure, resiliency, and fuel independence from California. https://t.co/8mfW9lH17n
— Dr. Robin Titus (@drrobintitus) June 25, 2025
The problem Dr. Titus is trying to solve is huge. Nevada depends on California for 88% of its fuel. That means Nevada families are at the mercy of California’s high prices and unstable supply chain.
Nevada’s Fuel Crisis Is Getting Worse
Picture your local gas station running out of fuel because of problems 300 miles away in California. That’s exactly what happened twice in recent years. When a pipeline leaked in Los Angeles in 2023, Nevada gas pumps went dry. When a brush fire hit the pipeline in January, the same thing happened again.
Nevada only has 12.5 to 13.3 days of fuel storage statewide. That’s like having less than two weeks of groceries in your pantry and hoping the store never closes.
The real kicker? California’s new emission standards could drive Nevada gas prices up by 47 to 65 cents per gallon starting in 2025. For a family that fills up twice a week, that’s an extra $600 to $840 per year coming out of their pockets.
California gas is already the most expensive in the nation because of environmental rules and special fuel requirements. Nevada families shouldn’t have to pay California prices for California policies they never voted for.
Dr. Titus’s Solution Gets Blocked
Dr. Titus introduced Senate Bill 505 as an emergency measure. The bill would create the Nevada Energy Resiliency Task Force with 11 experts. Their job would be simple: figure out how Nevada can break free from California’s energy control.
The task force would study several options. They could expand fuel imports from Utah. They could build a new pipeline from New Mexico and Texas. They could explore alternative fuels. All roads lead to the same destination – Nevada controlling its own energy future.
When she introduced the bill, Titus said:
“Nevada’s dependence on California’s shrinking refinery network threatens our economy and drives up gas prices,”
But here’s the frustrating part. Democrats who control the Nevada Legislature wouldn’t even give SB505 a hearing. The bill was introduced on May 26, 2025, sent to committee, and has been gathering dust ever since.
This is classic big government behavior. Instead of letting Nevada solve its own energy problems, Democratic legislators prefer to keep the state dependent on California’s policies.
Governor Lombardo Steps Around the Roadblock
Fortunately, Governor Joe Lombardo isn’t waiting for the legislature to act. His Office of Energy is already working on Dr. Titus’s concepts for energy independence.
Governor Lombardo signed Executive Order 2023-007 earlier in his term, which outlined his energy policy objectives for Nevada. “Governor Lombardo’s energy policy objectives provide a critical framework for the future of energy in Nevada,” said Dwayne McClinton, the Director of the Governor’s Office of Energy.
This shows how conservative leadership can work around obstructionist politicians to get things done for regular families.
Why Energy Independence Matters to Conservatives
Energy independence isn’t just about gas prices. It’s about freedom and limited government principles that conservatives hold dear.
Right now, Nevada families are forced to follow California’s environmental regulations through the back door. They pay California’s high prices because politicians won’t plan ahead for energy security.
Conservatives believe states should control their own destiny. We shouldn’t have to follow California’s rules just because we buy their gas. We shouldn’t have to pay California’s inflated prices just because our legislature won’t act.
This is exactly the kind of government dependence that conservatives oppose. When one state can control another state’s energy costs, that’s not free market capitalism – that’s government-created monopoly.
What Critics Are Saying
Some Democrats argue that moving away from California fuel could hurt the environment. They worry that building new pipelines or importing from other states might increase carbon emissions.
Others claim the task force would be unnecessary government spending. They say the market will solve the problem naturally without government intervention.
These arguments miss the point completely. The current system isn’t a free market – it’s government-created dependence. California’s regulations artificially limit supply and drive up prices for Nevada families.
What Happens Next
Dr. Titus’s original plan called for the task force to study alternatives until early 2027 and present a plan to the legislature. Now that the Governor’s Office of Energy is moving forward with her concepts, Nevada might see progress even sooner.
California gas prices could hit $8 per gallon by the end of 2026. Nevada drivers will feel every increase until the state breaks free from this dependence.
The bottom line is simple: Nevada should control Nevada’s energy future. Dr. Titus understands this. Governor Lombardo understands this. Now it’s time for all conservatives to demand action.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
