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StumblePublished Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 | 8:01 a.m.
Updated Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 | 8:03 a.m.
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced this morning he will introduce a bill that would give the federal government vast new authority to site electrical transmission lines in Nevada and other states.
Reid announced the pending legislation at the opening of the National Clean Energy Project in Washington. Former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, billionaire wind-energy promoter T. Boone Pickens, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others joined Reid at today’s summit.
At a similar forum in Las Vegas last summer, the development of transmission lines emerged as a key to expanding renewable energy.
Reid’s bill could grant the federal government eminent domain authority in establishing the transmission lines, Dow Jones reported this morning.
The federal authority could helping to speed what has been a lengthy process but it also faces potential political opposition from communities and lawmakers.
In the just-signed economic recovery package, $3.25 billion in new loan authority has been made available for the Western Area Power Administration to develop transmission lines. Similar funds are available in the Northwest.
Just the fact that they are acknowledging the need and discussing such is HUGE! We really must get on about the business of becoming an energy independent nation. No one single factor burdens a society and economy more than the cost of fuel. Jeff Wilson has a fantastic book just out called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now. It is exciting to see our nation finally starting to wake up to the seriousness of this need in our society. http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com...
another of obama ploy take your eye off the real problem and it all belongs in the lap of ------
you can lay the whole thing right in obama lap with ACORN_clucklie schummmmmmmer-frank-dodd-kerry-kennedy-reid-peloski-waters-obama-housing-banking scandal that raped the US taxpayers. oh yah ACORN holding training session in PHoenix yesterday on barricading youself in foreclosed houses. I think even one of the crooks was arrested on the east coast yesterday also. Yes obama ACORN-obama the greastest heist of taxpayers money. GOD BLESS AMERICA
In dealing the the issues of locating and constructing transmission lines, especially here in Nevada (and other states with large areas of lands managed by the federal government) there also has to be provisions which provide getting the lines built there. Eminent Domain might be needed in some places for the ability to cross private property, but getting through NEPA is even more challenging than crossing private land.
Taking private property for the green economy? Once this makes the news, Reid's BS will get stomed on.
Go to Hell, Harry...
Solar and wind plants will be scatter over all the place and usually in pristine wilderness areas.
We will have to spend tons of money on high power transmission lines usually through pristine wilderness areas to get that power to urban areas.
Solar and wind are expensive and do not provide 24/7 reliable energy.
I was studying the Western Energy Regional Corridor map for transmission lines and found out that the line would go right through my ranch! I guess I'm in for eminent domain someday, great... What happened to this country? The corporate model has become so ingrained in people's heads that they can't see another paradigm, like rooftop localized solar, decentralized power, town energy co-ops, no need for expensive national grids that are subject to black-outs if one part gets downed by things like an ice storm.
Reid has proven himself to be a failure in both environmental protection and now standing up for the property rights of hard working Americans. If you can't depend on keeping your property in America, what can you depend on? The new administration is saying T-Boone Pickens is more important than the private property owner. I am no longer buying the Democrat's song and dance about standing up for the middle class. This article proves that is all BS. The poor and middle class will be the first to get their land stolen so the democrats can give all the wealth to T-Boone Pickes. You are disgusting, Senator Reid!
Reid's hypocrisy is staggering. He supports state's rights when it comes to Yucca Mountain but Federal rights for siting other controversial facilities? He doesn't show any shame in displaying his breathtaking lack of character and intellectual honesty.
Wow, I have to agree with the previous poster - - Reid's hypocrisy IS staggering. State's rights matter when it comes to Nevada and Yucca Mountain, but otherwise eminent domain should apply? It's depressing the the Senate Majority Leader is a person of such little integrity.
Make it three posters who are stunned by Reid's hypocrisy.
On NPR this morning, a utility commissioner stated that his state regulators group opposed moving jurisdiction from the state and local levels to the federal level. He was thoroughly against the eminent domain idea.
Here's how Harry Reid replied to the commissioner:
"He represents 231 state regulators. Whatever we pass at the federal level trumps all that, okay?"
This from a man who was determined that Nevada had every right to make the sole and final decision regarding Yucca Mountain (science and Congress be damned).
Harry Reid's hypocrisy goes beyond astounding. It's bordering on criminal.
Harry you have lost 2 loyal votes in 2010,may you go packing back to Nv.! WE hope some Govt. entity confiscates your own personal land and property. This did not work in communism or have you forgotten so soon?
You folks are stunned?? Haven't you been paying attention at all the last 4 years? This isn't just a Democrat vs. Republican thing, this is the whole political system gluttony at the taxpayer trough. Reid has been trying to champion "Green" energy to shore up his flagging performance on the Senate floor in D.C. Ensign and Heller are just obstructionists, with Ensign taking more photo ops than Bush did. He's preparing for a big move in the REP. party and just going along with party lines. Remember, the Supreme Court (under Rep. party majority) has already ruled that PRIVATE PROPERTY can be taken under eminent domain by a corporation for the greater "public" good. The case was decided in favor of a strip mall developer!!! This happened with Ensign as our Senator and with Reid, so don't look for a political party to blame. They are all looking for personal gain at your, the taxpayer, expense. I have been watching this happen for the last 6 years, the most recent situation being in the Reno-Carson City area where so called "Green" wind energy is going through the back door to gain access to private property and establishing their INDUSTRIAL WIND PROJECTS in RURAL private property areas. And the county/district commissioners (mostly republicans, sorry to say) are backing them. Now NRS are being revised to move Utility Corridors, established by law, to where ever they want them, private land or not, setbacks from private property are being decreased so you will have 450 feet of steel machinery in your back yard humming away all day. You folks better start asking some tough questions of both your Rep. and Dem. reps and senators and study the issue b/4 you open your mouth. Form a local political action group NOT associated with a political party. WE need common sense now, not politics if you want REAL change and the time is growing short. It will NOT be the Pres., the Congress or any political party that will bring back middle class values but YOU, THE PEOPLE. ORGANIZE NOW or PERISH!!!