LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Las Vegas Valley leaders are urging people to protect everyone’s power this summer and tie down their balloons, all ahead of a new state law that will ban balloon releases.
Saturday, NV Energy tells FOX5 that a mylar balloon caused a power outage to 751 customers in Henderson from 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Another outage last from Tuesday may also be balloon-related, a spokesperson said.
A new law goes into effect on Oct. 1 and bans the intentional release of helium-filled balloons outdoors. Violations will lead to a $250 fine; exceptions are made for indoor balloon releases, weather balloons or research purposes.
NV Energy told lawmakers, over the past five years, hundreds of outages have been caused by mylar balloons. Regular balloons also cause damage and work for crews, utility officials said.
FOX5 has covered numerous outages across the City of Las Vegas. The city created the Valley’s first ordinance to ban outdoor releases, and Councilwoman Nancy Brune spearheaded the effort. Brune also lobbied for the passage of the statewide legislation.
“We’re helping workers with this bill. We’re protecting small businesses and the business continuity, and we’re protecting our wildlife,” Brune said.
“We had two big power outages. When that happened, all those businesses shut down. Food was thrown out, because the refrigeration went out,” she said. “You actually have to put workers up there to remove them, because the plastic is all melted. So that poses a huge risk to the workers,” Brune said.
Brune tells FOX5, the city is launching a campaign in English and Spanish this summer, informing the public of all the dangers caused by balloon releases.
The city or state law does not punish children who accidentally release a balloon. They hope the effort zeroes in on those who intentionally release balloons during a planned event.
“We’re not trying to penalize people,” Brune said. “We’re going to be raising awareness, because once people realize the unintended consequences, they do choose to celebrate their loved ones or do their gender reveals in different ways,” she said.
Balloons also cause damage to Nevada’s wilderness. FOX5 has covered the Desert Balloon Project: the effort has collected more than 4,000 stray balloons across the desert terrain. Tortoises often ingest the balloons and die from consumption.
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