Hooking Up The Green
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Nevada farmers and ranchers, like all of the state’s citizens, are interested in the end result of more electrical power being available. We have also been fed a constant diet of how Nevada is the Saudi Arabia of alternative power (geothermal and solar power being the super-star sources in the much-to-do about what we ought to be striving for).
One of the major problems in all this talk-is-cheap discussion has been getting the power from where it’s captured to where people need it. You can’t haul electricity out of the middle of no-where in buckets.
Earlier this week, in the Las Vegas Sun, we read that Governor Gibbons was moving forward with an idea of creating a non-profit entity to sell bonds, to raise funds and finance the construction of the necessary “wiring” to bring the alternative power to market. It would seem that the idea might be good enough now for there to be an argument over at the legislature, as again reported in the Las Vegas Sun someone on that end-of-the-block in Carson City is thinking they’ve even got a better idea.
Assemblywoman Shelia Leslie from Reno is of the opinion that the Governor ought not be going off on his own to take on this project.
“If the state is going to use its bonding leverage, why cede so much authority to a nonprofit?” she said. “Rather than rushing to set this up, it would be better public policy to have this debate in the Legislature.”
Although this isn’t going to sound as positive as it probably should…it is an interesting aside to finally get to a meaningful discussion on the necessary components of developing alternative energy sources and having folks arguing over the degree of socialistic development Nevada should buy in for.
The Governor’s plan and possibly the legislature’s plan to (when they might come up with one) seeks to use the state’s bonding authority to raise the necessary capital to pay for the development of the power grid that’s needed. It will be worth watching to see how the details shake out, but it could have some very strong merits for the following reasons:
As the 75th Nevada Legislature evolves through the stages they will go through, we will continue to monitor and look forward to advances made in doing something about developing Nevada’s alternative energy opportunities.
Like they say in the Nike ads – “Just Do It!”
Nevada farmers and ranchers, like all of the state’s citizens, are interested in the end result of more electrical power being available. We have also been fed a constant diet of how Nevada is the Saudi Arabia of alternative power (geothermal and solar power being the super-star sources in the much-to-do about what we ought to be striving for).
One of the major problems in all this talk-is-cheap discussion has been getting the power from where it’s captured to where people need it. You can’t haul electricity out of the middle of no-where in buckets.
Earlier this week, in the Las Vegas Sun, we read that Governor Gibbons was moving forward with an idea of creating a non-profit entity to sell bonds, to raise funds and finance the construction of the necessary “wiring” to bring the alternative power to market. It would seem that the idea might be good enough now for there to be an argument over at the legislature, as again reported in the Las Vegas Sun someone on that end-of-the-block in Carson City is thinking they’ve even got a better idea.
Assemblywoman Shelia Leslie from Reno is of the opinion that the Governor ought not be going off on his own to take on this project.
“If the state is going to use its bonding leverage, why cede so much authority to a nonprofit?” she said. “Rather than rushing to set this up, it would be better public policy to have this debate in the Legislature.”
Although this isn’t going to sound as positive as it probably should…it is an interesting aside to finally get to a meaningful discussion on the necessary components of developing alternative energy sources and having folks arguing over the degree of socialistic development Nevada should buy in for.
The Governor’s plan and possibly the legislature’s plan to (when they might come up with one) seeks to use the state’s bonding authority to raise the necessary capital to pay for the development of the power grid that’s needed. It will be worth watching to see how the details shake out, but it could have some very strong merits for the following reasons:
- We really need the system put in place. (Like I said earlier, you can’t haul the electricity out to where you need on horse-back.)
- Having the authority of the state of Nevada stamped on the proposal might have some extra horsepower in getting the details through the NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) process a little easier. (Even though our friends in the Green Community Love the idea of green energy – they aren’t too happy about power lines….especially, those that cross lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service.)
- Demonstrating that somebody is actually serious (with money where their mouths have only been) could also send the necessary signals to energy developers that building a solar collection system, a wind farm, or a geothermal system at the other ends of the power lines is worth their resources.
- Lastly, moving forward would get us over the current point of sitting around and talking about how great things will be when our energy footprints are turning green instead of carbon-based.
As the 75th Nevada Legislature evolves through the stages they will go through, we will continue to monitor and look forward to advances made in doing something about developing Nevada’s alternative energy opportunities.
Like they say in the Nike ads – “Just Do It!”
Comments