Steven St John’s Responses to Nevada Stance on Science

K–12 Education

Question

In 2023–24, approximately 14% of fifth-grade students and 36% of eighth-grade students in Nevada met or exceeded state standards for science, while many Nevada school districts face challenges attracting and retaining qualified STEM educators. What evidence-based policies, if any, would you support to strengthen science education and access to quality STEM educators across the state, and why?

Sources supplied in the questionnaire: Nevada science standards report · STEM teacher scholarship program

Steven St John’s response

As a hospital chaplain, I see how science and skilled healthcare professionals affect patients and families every day. Strong science education helps prepare our children for careers and gives them the tools to evaluate evidence and make informed decisions.

In Congress, I would support federal investment in STEM teacher scholarships and paid classroom training, including the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. I would prioritize schools struggling to recruit qualified educators, in both rural and urban communities.

Recruitment must be matched by retention. I support mentoring for new teachers, continued subject-specific training, and partnerships with Nevada universities. I would work with state and local leaders to support competitive compensation and adequate classroom resources.

Students also need hands-on science instruction, safe laboratory equipment, and opportunities to learn from scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals. Access should not depend on a family’s income or ZIP code.

I would support evaluating these investments through student learning, teacher retention, and access to qualified educators, expanding approaches that demonstrate results. We should listen to teachers and researchers, follow the evidence, and adjust when programs fall short.

Keywords: Evidence, Access, Retention

Water

Question

Nevada is the driest state in the United States, and our limited water resources are facing increasing demand as drought pressure increases. Research has documented declining groundwater levels and concerns about the long-term sustainability of groundwater withdrawals. What policies, if any, would you support to promote sustainable groundwater use and protect long-term access to fresh water in Nevada? How would you approach balancing competing water demands, such as those from agriculture, communities, industry, and environmental needs?

Sources supplied in the questionnaire: Driest states · Groundwater research

Steven St John’s response

Nevada’s water policy must protect reliable access to safe drinking water today while preserving supplies for future generations. I would support federal funding for groundwater monitoring, scientific research, and publicly accessible information about aquifer conditions. Water decisions should reflect what each basin can sustainably supply, including its connections to rivers, springs, and ecosystems.

I support conservation investments, leak repairs, wastewater recycling where appropriate, and agricultural assistance for more efficient irrigation and crops suited to Nevada’s climate. Conservation programs should measure actual water savings rather than assume that new equipment alone reduces groundwater depletion.

Balancing demands requires listening to farmers, residents, Tribal nations, businesses, and scientists. Safe drinking water and essential household needs must be protected, while recognizing agricultural livelihoods and the water needed to sustain ecosystems. Industry and new development should demonstrate a reliable water supply and account for their effects on existing users.

As a member of Congress, I would support Nevada’s state and local water planning through research, infrastructure funding, and cooperation across jurisdictions. I would evaluate costly proposals, including water imports or desalination partnerships, against conservation alternatives, using evidence on cost, feasibility, energy use, and environmental effects.

Keywords: Conservation, Sustainability, Cooperation

Heat

Question

Reno was recently identified as the fastest-warming city in the country, closely followed by Las Vegas. What steps, if any, would you take to protect Nevadans from the increasing threat of extreme heat, particularly vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, low-income communities, and outdoor workers?

Sources supplied in the questionnaire: DRI: An invisible natural disaster

Steven St John’s response

As a hospital chaplain, I am especially concerned about people whose age, illness, work, or living conditions leave them vulnerable to extreme heat. Protection must reach people before they face a medical emergency.

In Congress, I would support federal funding for reliable air conditioning in schools and affordable housing, home weatherization, and utility assistance so families and seniors can afford to keep their homes safe.

I support accessible cooling centers with extended hours, transportation, drinking water, and outreach to people living alone or experiencing homelessness. Heat alerts should provide clear, multilingual instructions and identify where help is available.

Outdoor workers need enforceable, evidence-based protections, including drinking water, shade, rest breaks, acclimatization, and emergency response plans. Schools and childcare programs also need heat safety plans for outdoor activities and transportation.

I would support investments in shaded bus stops, appropriate tree cover, and cooler roofs and pavement, prioritizing neighborhoods with the greatest heat exposure and fewest resources.

These efforts should be coordinated with local governments, Tribal nations, public health experts, employers, and community organizations. We should measure results through heat-related illness and deaths, access to cooling, and whether assistance reaches those most at risk.

Keywords: Prevention, Cooling, Protection

Energy

Question

In 2025, solar power provided approximately 34% of Nevada’s total in-state electricity generation. As electricity demand continues to grow, what role do you believe renewable energy sources should play in meeting Nevada’s future energy needs? What policies, if any, would you support to facilitate the development of these resources while keeping energy affordable for Nevada households and ensuring that residents who generate their own electricity can participate fairly in the energy system?

Sources supplied in the questionnaire: EIA Nevada energy analysis

Steven St John’s response

Renewable energy should play a major role in Nevada’s future, alongside investments that keep electricity reliable and affordable. I support expanding solar and geothermal power, energy storage, and transmission where evidence shows clear benefits for residents.

In Congress, I would support federal investment in these resources, energy efficiency, and workforce training. Projects should undergo meaningful environmental review and consultation with affected communities and Tribal nations.

Affordability must be a measure of success. I support weatherization, efficient appliances, and assistance that helps low-income households benefit from clean energy. Community solar can offer participation to renters and residents who cannot install rooftop panels. Utilities should demonstrate how proposed investments affect household bills, and large industrial users should pay their fair share of the infrastructure needed to serve them.

Residents who generate electricity should receive fair, transparent compensation for power supplied to the grid. Working with Nevada regulators, I would encourage predictable interconnection rules, reasonable fees, and rates that recognize both customer-generated power’s value and the shared costs of maintaining reliable service.

As a senior, I understand that families need predictable bills. Energy policy should be judged by affordability, reliability, and measurable public benefits.

Keywords: Affordability, Renewables, Fairness

Data Centers

Question

Nevada has increasingly attracted large-scale data centers and other energy-intensive industries, which can provide economic investment while also increasing demand for electricity and water. What approach, if any, would you take to ensure that the anticipated water and energy needs of these developments are accurately accounted for in planning and permitting, while balancing economic benefits and electricity costs for residents?

Sources supplied in the questionnaire: DRI data centers

Steven St John’s response

Nevada should welcome investment that creates lasting public benefits, with clear accounting for its water, energy, and infrastructure demands. Residents deserve to know how a proposed data center could affect their utility bills and long-term water supplies.

I would support requiring independently reviewed estimates of electricity demand, peak usage, water consumption, and drought-related risks before approval. Planning should consider the combined demands of existing facilities and proposed developments, rather than reviewing each project in isolation. Projections should be checked against actual use, with enforceable reporting and corrective measures when necessary.

Developers should pay the costs of additional infrastructure needed to serve them. Utility agreements should protect households from subsidizing industrial expansion or bearing stranded costs if a facility closes.

I support efficient cooling, water reuse where safe and feasible, and additional energy resources that maintain grid reliability. Economic benefits should be assessed through permanent jobs, tax revenue, and public costs, with transparent conditions on incentives.

In Congress, I would support research, consistent reporting standards, and federal assistance for responsible infrastructure planning, while working with Nevada’s permitting authorities. I would oppose projects where credible evidence shows unacceptable risks to essential water supplies or household energy affordability.

Keywords: Accountability, Sustainability, Affordability

Mining and Mineral Resources

Question

As the Silver State, Nevada is a major U.S. source of mineral resources and has some of the country's largest lithium reserves, which are increasingly important to the nation's energy and technology industries. How would you balance the development of these resources with potential impacts on water, ecosystems, and surrounding communities, and what role, if any, should scientific and environmental assessments play in decisions about where and how mining occurs?

Sources supplied in the questionnaire: Nevada lithium resources

Steven St John’s response

I support responsible mineral development that creates good jobs and strengthens domestic supply chains while protecting Nevada’s water and communities. Scientific and environmental assessments should guide decisions about where mining occurs, how it operates, and whether a project should proceed.

Before approval, I would support rigorous review of groundwater use, potential contamination, wildlife habitat, public health, and cumulative impacts from nearby development. Reviews should use credible, independently evaluated evidence, disclose uncertainties, and consider alternatives, including locations or methods with less environmental harm.

Tribal nations and surrounding communities must have meaningful opportunities to participate early, with respect for Tribal sovereignty, cultural resources, and treaty obligations. Residents deserve clear information about anticipated benefits and risks.

Mining companies should fund monitoring, reclamation, and financial assurances sufficient to cover cleanup and long-term obligations. Taxpayers should not inherit those costs if an operator closes or goes bankrupt.

In Congress, I would support research into less water-intensive extraction, mineral recycling, and safer processing. Permitting should be adequately staffed and timely without weakening environmental protections.

If credible evidence shows that a project would cause unacceptable harm to essential water supplies or communities, I would support changing the proposal or denying approval.

Keywords: Evidence, Water, Accountability

Question for Nevada Stance on Science

Question

Do you have any questions for Nevada Stance on Science?

Steven St John’s response

How can elected officials connect with Nevada scientists for independent, nonpartisan guidance on proposed legislation? Do you offer briefings or opportunities to bring researchers and residents together at community town halls?

As a hospital chaplain, I value listening and making complex information understandable. I would welcome an ongoing dialogue to help translate scientific evidence into practical policies that serve Nevadans.