Berkley proposes funds for energy research

Thursday, Aug. 16, 2001 | 9:52 a.m.

After scolding the Bush administration's response to energy shortages, Rep. Shelley Berkley on Wednesday proposed a $750 million fund to back loans for research and development of renewable, environmentally friendly energy sources.

Berkley was surrounded by supporters of the proposed loan-guarantee fund, including Nevada Consumer Advocate Tim Hay, Small Business Administration District Director John Scott, Nevada Test Site Director George Ormiston and activist Daniel Geary with the National Environmental Trust.

All of them said backing private-sector loans to develop renewable energy would make sense both for the country and for Nevada, which has an abundance of sun, wind and geothermal power potential.

"Southern Nevada should be the epicenter of renewable technologies," Berkley said.

Berkley slammed the Bush administration's energy policy. She echoed other critics who have said the administration is relying mostly on fossil fuels -- gas, oil and coal -- and nuclear energy, charges that administration officials say aren't warranted.

But administration officials also are calling for dozens of new nuclear plants, which will create additional pressure to open the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, Berkley said.

The loan guarantees would make sense for everyone, Berkley said -- "business, the environment and the taxpayer."

Scott, with the Small Business Administration, said his agency is ready to administer a set-aside in the loan guarantee legislation for small businesses.

He said the rising prices for gas and electricity that are hitting both residential and business customers have signaled the need to be less complacent about energy.

"There is a lot of potential out there, a lot of untapped potential."

Ormiston, whose Nevada Test Site is working to establish an electricity-producing wind farm, predicted oil from the Middle East would run out in about 20 years.

"Twenty years goes by pretty fast," he said. "Now is the time to start resolving that issue, not 20 years from now, for gosh sakes."

Ormiston and Geary said one of the big reasons for backing research into clean renewable fuels is the impact that burning fossil fuels has on the environment, including the effect on global warming.

Geary said 30,000 people nationally die each year because of exposure to air pollution from fossil fuels.

He said the federal government has spent much more money on research for nuclear fuels and even fossil fuel technologies, such as natural gas-fired electric generating plants. Now is the time to invest in technologies for renewable energy, Geary said.

"There are economically feasible alternatives to fossil fuels," he said.

Hay said Nevada is "clearly one of the most blessed states in terms of renewable resources," and could lead the country in their development.

Berkley said she expects to get bipartisan support for the loan-guarantee fund, which will have to pass the House Commerce Committee.