Group: Feds underfund alternative energy

Friday, Aug. 31, 2001 | 10:37 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An environmental organization is complaining the federal government spends almost all of its research money for energy on nuclear power rather than alternative sources.

"The government needs to make investments in new forms," said Dan Geary, head of the National Environmental Trust in Nevada.

The trust is sponsoring a road tour, which stopped in Carson City Thursday, showing how people can conserve energy by using more efficient lighting, wind-powered electricity and solar energy.

In Southern Nevada, Geary said, a thermal solar system would cost $1,500 to $2,000 but the investment would be recovered in six to seven months through lower hot water bills.

State Consumer Advocate Tim Hay said the state Public Utilities Commission is holding a workshop today toward developing regulations for alternate forms of energy.

A bill enacted by the Legislature this year requires electric utilities to produce or buy 5 percent of their power from alternate energy sources. Hay said that amount increases until 2013 when the utilities must have 15 percent produced from alternative sources.

California, he said, requires 20 percent of its power be from sources such as wind, solar or geothermal.

There is an excellent source of wind in Nevada, Hay said. And the cost of converting that into power has dropped by 90 percent since the 1980s.

The trust says the United States spends $5 billion a year developing more oil, natural gas and coal and it complained President Bush wants to spend even more.

The trust said this country needs a more balanced energy plan to stress efficiency, conservation and renewable resources.

Geary said that for the last 50 years, 95 percent of the government money looking for non-fossil fuel alternates has gone to the nuclear industry.

"There needs to be a revolution in alternative energy," Geary said.

Research on solar and wind systems is now going on at the Nevada Test Site.

And he praised the Legislature for "showing leadership" in requiring more alternative energy to be used in the future.

The Environmental Trust is supported through private grants and none of its money comes from the oil or natural gas industry, Geary said.