Las Vegas physical therapist and mother of three, Paulette Henriod, saw her family’s power bills climb higher every summer.
Every cent more we pay in utility costs means less money would be available for important goals like saving for retirement and helping with the children’s college educations.
When Paulette’s family added solar and switched to driving an EV, they saw those savings in real time. Paulette’s family used federal clean energy tax credits to help lower the cost — but those are set to end by December.
Want information about which tax credits you qualify for, the best installers, and more? Visit SaveEnergyNV.org
From Wyoming Rivers to the Mojave Desert
Paulette’s love for nature started early. She grew up along the rivers of western Wyoming, where her dad volunteered on local conservation projects.
“I watched him work on habitat protection and conservation projects along the river where I grew up,” Paulette said.
“He instilled in me a desire to protect natural spaces and our climate.”
That lesson stuck with her. After more than twenty years in Nevada, she’s raising her own family in Las Vegas, a city that knows heat better than most. With triple-digit summers and rising utility costs, Paulette and her husband started looking for ways to keep their home cool for less.
One Smart Switch, Two Big Wins
Paulette’s family had talked about switching to solar for years. They wanted to save money, but the upfront cost felt out of reach, until they learned about federal clean energy tax credits.
“When we realized we could get tax credits to offset those costs, it made the decision much easier,” she said.
They made the leap in 2021, installing rooftop solar panels on their home. Not long after, they decided to buy an electric vehicle, too. For Paulette’s family, using power from their own roof to charge their car just made sense. Sure, there were a few surprises (including some stubborn pigeons that thought the panels made perfect shade), but after adding bird netting, the system worked like a charm. Now, their monthly loan payments are lower than what they used to pay NV Energy.
“We went from feeling stuck to feeling empowered,” Paulette said. “We’re producing our own energy, and it’s saving us money every month.”
Change Starts on Our Street
Once their panels went up, neighbors started asking questions, and before long, more homes on the block were making the same switch.
“I was so happy when the Inflation Reduction Act increased the solar tax credit to 30%,” Paulette said.
“It meant more families could do what we did.”
That’s the power of word-of-mouth in our communities. One family’s story can spark another’s. Together, we help each other find practical ways to cut costs, protect our homes from rising energy prices, and keep more of our hard-earned money right here in Nevada.
Why Acting Now Matters
This year, Congress ended some of the clean energy tax credits that helped families like the Henriod’s afford solar panels and electric vehicles.
According to 3 News Now, Nevada families claimed more than $137 million in credits for home energy in 2023, real money that stayed in our state, supporting jobs and helping families save. Losing these programs doesn’t just hit our wallets; it slows down the kind of progress that makes life a little more affordable for all of us — so we can spend our money on the things that matter most to us.
“I was really disheartened to see that happen,” Paulette said. “Nevada was a big beneficiary of these incentives; they created good-paying jobs in our state.”
That’s why she’s urging others not to wait. The remaining credits are still available for a limited time, but applications and installations take weeks. The sooner we act, the more we can save.
What Installers Are Saying
Solar installers are echoing that same urgency.
“Time is running out,” said Steve Hamile, COO of Sol-Up.
“Make sure your installer can guarantee your project will be finished by the end of the year, and that they already have the permit in hand.”
Even with the credits phasing out, solar still pencils out for families, he said.
“It’s not the end of solar, just the end of the credit,” Hamile said.
“There are new finance options that still give people real savings.”
Source: Save Energy NV
It’s About More Than Bills.
It’s About the Future.
For Paulette, the choice to go solar was about more than lowering bills. It was about doing her part for her kids and her community.
“Clean energy incentives put energy-saving investments within reach for many more people than would otherwise be able to take advantage of renewable energy and all that it has to offer,” she said.
“If you can, act quickly. There’s still some time.”
Nevada’s clean energy future isn’t built by corporations or politicians, it’s built by families like Paulette’s and our own, one rooftop at a time.
Learn how you can save on clean energy upgrades and keep more in your pocket at SaveEnergyNV.org.