Editorial: Don’t shortchange renewable energy

Thursday, April 26, 2001 | 9:02 a.m.

Nevada has an abundance of untapped renewable energy -- solar, wind and geothermal. Yet the state only requires that 1 percent of an electric utility's total energy come from these clean sources. That is why it is disappointing that legislation is languishing in the Assembly that would require Nevada's electric utilities to purchase more of these renewable fuels.

Under Assembly Bill 418, by the end of 2002 the total amount of renewable energy used would have to be 5 percent, which then would increase 2 percent every two years until 2013, when these clean fuels would account for 15 percent. These goals are ambitious, so any legislation should ensure that utilities don't have to buy alternative fuels if it isn't prudent. But the amount currently devoted to renewable energy is miserly, which means the Legislature should boost significantly the electric utilities' use of these clean energy sources.

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