Reid proposal eyes credits for alternate energy investment
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001 | 10:20 a.m.
A bill to encourage investment in wind, geothermal and other sources of renewable energy was introduced by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Tuesday.
Reid's bill proposes to make federal tax credits permanent for low-polluting power resources and to expand the credits to include less traditional alternatives such as power from poultry and animal wastes and tree trimmings.
The legislation is intended to expand existing electricity production and spur new development, as energy shortages in California threaten to spread to other Western states, including Nevada.
Relying on wind, geothermal or solar sources removes carbon monoxide, mercury and millions of tons of other dangerous pollutants from the environment, Reid said.
"Unless we expand the use of renewable energy in Nevada and across the nation, air and water pollution will only increase and it will be future generations who ultimately pay the price," the senator said.
Reid also considered the potential for an economic boost to rural Nevada towns converting to renewable sources. Reid said a recently funded wind project at the Nevada Test Site was a perfect example.
The Nevada Test Site and M&N Co. will soon build a state-of-the-art wind farm that could deliver 260 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 260,000 homes. The Test Site was the base for nuclear weapons experiments above and below ground from 1951 until 1992.
The less traditional alternatives include a system called closed-loop biomass generation, which uses tree trimmings and animal waste. Paper pulp, animal or poultry wastes or clippings are burned and turned into a gas in a unit that captures the fumes before they escape and condenses the steam to reuse the water.
Reid's bill also gives a boost to geothermal sources, which take hot water from deep within the earth and uses the steam to turn generators. Many prime spots for geothermal energy development are found in Northern Nevada.
State Consumer Advocate Tim Hay applauded Reid's efforts and those of the Nevada Legislature.
"I think there is a growing sense that Nevada has to be more energy independent," Hay said.
With Nevada Power Co. importing more than 50 percent of the electricity demanded in the summer months, strained sources in other states may not be able to supply the growing Las Vegas Valley, Hay said.
The Legislature is considering an increase in its requirements for renewable energy to 9 percent.
The state Public Utilities Commission has started to lay out the rules for electric service companies to meet the original renewable requirements contained in a bill passed by the 1991 Legislature.
Under the current proposal, up to 1 percent of electricity consumed by customers has to come from renewable sources, PUC spokesman David Chairez said.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Wonder drug for men no success story
- CityCenter: One man’s concept of a real city
- Bellfield tolls again for UNLV in 76-71 win over Louisville
- Man, 18, arrested for DUI in crash that kills woman, 24
- Notebook: UNLV prospect Polee likes what he sees, and hears, at the Mack
- Man fatally shot during robbery attempt of woman
- Bishop Gorman crushes Reed to head to state championship
- Pitino doesn’t consider loss to UNLV a total loss
- The ball’s in Reid’s court: Passing the public option
- Palin has a way of bringing out the anger in people
Blogs
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Tarkanian: Reid is liberal, out of touch, rude, poisonously partisan and a know-it-all (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
Barry Manilow off to Paris: Two-year deal starts March 5 at Le Theatre des Arts
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Ensign survives radio interview with no follow-ups; partial transcript below (2 Comments)
Now and Then
Battle of I-74 settled 1,700 miles from home
Elsewhere
Silva still recovering, won't fight Belfort at 109 (1 Comment)
The Greene Room
MWC Winners and Losers: Week 13
The Kats Report
If the message is 'rock out,' then KISS is indeed a message band (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
- 3 Thu
- 4 Fri
-
DJ showdown at Prive
Prive | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Rok Box with Mike Carbonell at Tabu
Tabú Ultralounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
DJ Riz at Jet
Jet | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Football specials at Diablo's
Diablos Cantina
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati









