Right now, Nevada is running on empty.

Our unemployment stands at a record 13 percent -- and many more are "underemployed," working part-time or at a significant pay cut.

Our home values have plunged, putting thousands in foreclosure and draining the savings for many more.

Food prices are soaring. Our state budget forced massive cuts to education and health care because of our reliance on two industries -- tourism and growth.

Our economy is not working for Nevada's families and our outdated energy policy worsens this economic downturn.

Other countries are leading the way in developing clean energy technologies. Consider this: the United States imports nearly 70 percent of the windmills operating in this country. Thomas Friedman writes, “Only one-sixth of the world’s top renewable energy manufacturers are based in the United States.”

Germany produces half of the world’s solar power,  and has created 50,000 new clean energy jobs. Spain generates about 24.5 percent of its electricity through renewable sources, compared with about 7 percent in the United States.China is investing $12.6 million  every hour to green their economy – six times more than the U.S.

These  countries know that the world will add 2.5 billion additional people by 2050,  spiking energy demands, and the country that can meet those demands will hold  immeasurable power.

It’s time to Rebuild Nevada with new energy.

Converting our pollution-based economy to one fueled by clean, homegrown energy is the "Space Race" of our generation. It will generate new jobs in Nevada by retrofitting millions of homes and businesses, harnessing wind, solar and geothermal resources, retooling our cars and trucks, building new public transportation systems and building a smart grid to transmit the clean energy we are capturing.

The New York Times writes, "Millions of jobs stand to be created as this investment expands — the low-carbon sector is now larger than defense and aerospace combined."

All of this will result in good jobs that can’t be exported overseas.