Thursday, April 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
George Caan, new Colorado River Commission director, said the challenge facing Southern Nevada is to secure long-term water supplies while balancing protection of the environment.
Caan, 38, who has an engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master's in business administration from Northeastern University, was approved by the commission Wednesday.
He starts his new position in Las Vegas on May 6.
Caan said he plans to help the CRC manage water supplies and low-cost hydroelectric power available from the Colorado River's dams.
Since Congress deregulated the electrical industry, allowing more competition to supply power customers, the climate has changed, he said during a telephone interview from Olympia, Wash.
"Nevada could be greatly helped in gaining low-cost power from deregulation," he said, but once environmental resources are gone, they are never recovered.
There are dangers for Nevada because it is a small state next to California or Arizona, but Caan said if the state is careful, there are economic gains from deregulation. A legislative committee is studying impacts from deregulating energy rules and a report is expected in 1997.
For the past 12 years, Caan was deputy director of the $20-million-a-year Washington State Energy Office. Then the Washington Legislature wiped out the 140-worker office. Half of the employees are losing their jobs in June, he said.
Caan directed the day-to-day operations of the Washington office, setting policy and analyzing issues raised after the legislation passed to close the office.
In Nevada, the role of the Colorado River Commission will change, he said.
CRC has not had an executive director since Tom Cahill resigned in March 1994. CRC Chairwoman Janet Rogers said Caan brings energy and enthusiasm to the job.
While most people know the CRC for dealing with water supplies for Southern Nevada from the Colorado River, the new priorities will include power available to public projects, she said. A director to handle CRC's power issues will be hired.
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