Senate OKs Vidler water deal

Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | 9:08 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An agreement between Lincoln County and a private company to develop water resources for economic development and for sale in Southern Nevada was approved Monday by the Senate.

The Senate voted 15-6 for Senate Bill 487, which goes to the Assembly.

Lincoln County, one of the poorest counties in the state, signed an agreement with Vidler Water Co., the largest private landholder in Nevada, to develop the water resources. Vidler is paying the up-front costs of exploration and development of the underground water and then will share in the profits.

Sen. Warren Hardy, R-Las Vegas, speaking against the bill, said it could lead to "water speculation" by allowing a private company to sell the resource for profit.

"We're making an important resource an instrument of profit," he said.

But Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, argued that a person or group must still be able to show "beneficial use" when applying for water rights, and so the bill does not change the state's century-old water laws. Townsend said a major 1,200-megawatt water-cooled power plant is planned for southern Lincoln County. It will use the water developed by the Vidler-Lincoln County partnership, he said.

The plant would be "beneficial to the electric ratepayers in Southern Nevada," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said she was concerned that Vidler would sell Nevada water out of state. She said she would like to see an amendment added to the bill in the Assembly to specify that restriction.

Voting against the bill were Hardy and Clark County Democrats Mike Schneider, Bob Coffin, Joe Neal, Maggie Carlton and Valerie Wiener.