Solar park receives Boulder City support

Jeffrey Libby

Tuesday, April 3, 2001 | 9:35 a.m.

Nevada Test Site Development Corp. has no hard plans and no money, but the Boulder City Council on Monday all but signed a lease for the nonprofit company to build a solar energy park in Eldorado Valley.

"Dreams aren't bad. Dreams are a good thing," Councilman Joe Hardy said of the proposed park. "Having no plan isn't unusual. And having no money isn't a crime. But I want to be on record saying that we know what we're doing and we know what we're saying."

Like other councilmen at a workshop, Hardy expressed some skepticism of the 5-year-old company's ability to come through on its promise to build a $35 million international solar research and display park in exchange for a $1 annual lease on land worth closer to $880,000 in yearly taxes.

But George Ormiston, chief operating officer of NTS Development, said without the promise of the land, he could do little to attract the green-energy institutes that he envisions would do scientific groundbreaking work at the park.

Ormiston said he would be contracting with research institutes from Europe, Africa and South America, but declined to name any. Many of the groups would be drawn from a 2-year-old alternative energy conference, GlobeEx, sponsored by NTS Development.

Ormiston said the park would be built using federal grants and private money.

The council will introduce the proposal for the park on April 10. The public will have a chance to speak at a hearing April 24.

The workshop was held after councilmen pulled the proposal from the agenda at last Tuesday's regular meeting. Councilman Bill Smith had expressed concern that the city charter might require the proposed energy park to go for a public vote before proceeding.

The charter allows for only solar-related uses and governmental uses in a 3,000-acre solar energy zone in the Eldorado Valley. That zone also includes the Eldorado Energy plant, which was built shortly before the charter was amended.

Smith said Monday he wanted the park to go to a public vote so the park could be opened to other alternative energy uses, but Uwe Rockenfeller, a consultant to the council, said the park wouldn't likely expand beyond solar-related uses for at least the first five years.

The council also revamped an earlier agreement that would have given the city 10 percent of net annual profits at the park.

City Manager John Sullard suggested the council remove the 10-percent clause and instead retain absolute negotiating power with the research companies who contract with NTS Development. The majority of those companies will be private companies, Sullard said, and as such, will provide the city with an expanded property tax base.