 
Results in Nevada:
In Nevada, the Power 2 Change campaign demonstrated that the state can move towards a new, clean energy economy by documenting local examples, including the inspirational story of Chris Brooks and his company, Bombard Electric. Brooks has installed the largest amount of solar photovoltaic in North America leading to the creation of up to 100 good-paying jobs. Nevada's Power 2 Change campaign also spoke to more than 5,000 Nevadans about the choices voters will make in this November's election, and distributed more than 1,000 CFL light bulbs -- the first step leading many Nevadans toward a clean energy economy.
Below: good and bad energy actions in this state, as profiled in our report.
 Entrepreneur Chris Brooks was working as an electrician in Las Vegas when one day in 2001, he said "a bolt of lightning came down and hit him." While working in the broiling desert heat on new construction, he wondered aloud as to why none of the homes were taking advantage of the punishing sunlight that shines on Nevada 300 days of the year. In that moment Brooks decided he would bring solar energy to Nevada.
Brooks then started his own company called Las Vegas Solar Electric, and became a certified photovoltaic installer in the state of Nevada. In 2004, Brooks joined forces with Bombard Electric, a commercial electrical contractor, to expand the capacity for photovoltaic installations in Nevada. By 2008, Bombard Electric's Renewable Energy Division - run by Brooks - had installed more photovoltaic power in North America than any other company. On top of that, the renewable energy division had created 25 good-paying, full-time union jobs with benefits and has up to 100 electricians installing photovoltaic systems in the field at any time.
"I started this just because it seemed like a smart way to make a living," Brooks said, "but it's grown into something much more than that, and I feel really good about what I'm doing."
 Steve Rypka can remember living in San Francisco as a child and wondering, "Where does all of the gas come from that fuels all of these cars? And what about all of the other cars in the rest of the world?" Being a Californian, Rypka spent lots of time in the outdoors, surfing along the coast and hiking in the hills. As a result, Rypka has always been passionate about protecting the natural world and aware of how his own actions could harm or help it.
Steve's work eventually brought him to Southern Nevada, where his childhood question and his love of nature would eventually come together. In 2000, he purchased his first "hybrid" vehicle to support the shift toward more efficient technology.
Steve's next big decision came in 2004, and by then he had done a lot of research. He and his wife, Marsala, moved into an Energy Star home and Steve made sure it had the elements and orientation to take advantage of passive solar strategies, creating natural heating and cooling benefits. He installed a five kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof with some financial incentives from the local utility company's solar electric rebate program. The combination of energy efficiency, passive solar orientation and the PV system worked. They now enjoy a net-zero energy home that annually produces more energy than it consumes. Their overall carbon footprint is 75% less than it was in 2000.
Those decisions in his life drove him to pursue clean energy for Nevadans as a career. As a founder of both Solar NV and the U.S. Green Building Council's Nevada Chapter, Rypka devotes both his work and volunteer time to helping others decrease their energy use and preaches the green gospel throughout his community and beyond.
Resident challenges air pollution increases
Less than one year ago, Michele Burkett moved to Mesquite, Nevada, to escape the air pollution in Salt Lake City and live in a place with a slower pace of life. She also chose Mesquite because it has some of the cleanest air you can find in the entire U.S.
But only months after her move, Burkett heard about the proposal for the Toquop Energy Project - a planned 750 megawatt coal-fired power plant from Sithe Global, Inc. Curious, she did a little investigation into the project and was shocked to find out that this plant would create a significant amount of air pollution, including harmful microscopic particles and mercury.
Burkett was outraged that the very reason she moved to Mesquite was about to be taken away from her. She spent hours online and with experts researching the realities of coal plants. Once she knew tactics that could help stop the new plant, Burkett starting calling her neighbors to inform them about the coal pollution that would make clean air a thing of the past in Mesquite.
Six months later, Burkett led her first event with the supporters that she had gathered. She turned out 200 people - including the mayor of Mesquite, the County Commissioners for the Mesquite area, and the local state assemblyman - to rally outside the air permit hearing for the Toquop Energy Project. Burkett says, "Sithe Global wants to steal our clean air--but I'm going to do everything in my power to stop them." Hundreds of supporters couldn't agree more.
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