Power play evident as strategies shaped

Erin Neff

Friday, Feb. 23, 2001 | 11:50 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- While unveiling a six-point plan he said will protect Nevadans from the energy crisis, Gov. Kenny Guinn warned lawmakers not to "make political hay" out of the problem.

But even as Democrats and Guinn's Republicans publicly vow to work together to address the crisis, each side also is quietly trying to take the reins of leadership on energy issues.

On Wednesday the Democratic leadership slipped a last-minute press release to the media just as the Legislature and executive branch met for a speech by Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev. Moments later Guinn's press secretary, Jack Finn, was passing out word of Thursday's planned announcement by the governor.

Neither side claimed to know what the other was doing, with Finn going so far as to request the Democrats' press release from the Sun. Shortly after Gibbons' speech, Guinn called Democrats into a meeting to unveil his energy plan to them.

When asked about the Democrats' similar plan during his press conference Thursday morning, Guinn feigned ignorance, asking to see the Democrats' press release and then immediately pointing out flaws in their plan after just a cursory glance at the page-long statement.

"The backbone structure of a plan cannot occur with one bill," Guinn said. "There can be nothing in a comprehensive energy plan that is left off the table."

He said the Democrats' plan, unveiled Wednesday by Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins of Henderson and Sen. Dina Titus and Barbara Buckley of Las Vegas, failed to address the state's lack of transmission lines.

Guinn also said a bill draft aiming to streamline the approval process for new power plants was irrelevant because the state has little to do with permitting such structures.

Titus, the author of that bill draft, said she doesn't understand why Guinn said he wants to work with Democrats but didn't include them when he announced his plan.

"If you think about all those bill drafts and the governor's plan, it's the same thing," Titus said.

Guinn's plan calls for a conservation strategy; re-examination of utility divestiture; streamlining new plant construction; examining alternative energy sources and ensuring flow of jet fuel through the Cal-Nev pipeline; fast-tracking new transmission line construction and keeping deregulation on hold.

The Democrats' plan also places a moratorium on deregulation; places a moratorium on divestiture; prohibits rate increases; encourages alternative energy providers; grants assistance for individuals on fixed incomes; streamlines construction of new plants and prohibits the acquisition of Portland Electric if it is not in the public's interest.

Guinn said he thought lawmakers were powerless to address the Portland Electric acquisition since that company has a contractual agreement governing its sale.

"If you can't stop that sale if it's not in the public interest, then how can you stop the other sales if they're not in the public's best interest?" Titus said.

Guinn has asked the Public Utilities Commission to reconsider allowing Sierra Pacific Resources to sell its eight plants, since similar divestiture in California proved disastrous.

"The public expects the Public Utilities Commission to take reasonable steps to protect the economy of the state of Nevada and the welfare of its citizens," Guinn wrote to PUC Chairman Don Soderberg.

Guinn said he has no authority to order a moratorium on divestiture. But the letter to the PUC, whose members he appoints, clearly asks that board to reconsider divestiture.

The PUC meets this afternoon to address divestiture and other related issues.