Letter: Industry’s power grab in energy bill is destructive

Monday, June 23, 2003 | 8:37 a.m.

The Senate is currently debating an energy bill that will do very little good for the country in general, and Nevada in particular.

From this bill, as is, we would see no decrease in our dependence upon foreign oil. It is laden with loan guarantees to the nuclear industry, which means taxpayer dollars subsidizing this dangerous and expensive business -- and more taxpayer money wasted, and Nevadans' health possibly compromised, by the transportation of nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain, bringing the danger full circle. Not to mention the proposals to open up Western wildlands for drilling, mining and exploratory energy ventures; areas that have, in the past, been open and untouchable by industry.

This is clearly a power grab by the energy industry. If the last two years have taught us anything it should be that a cleaner, more renewable system of energy should be our goal. Not a "personal" venture, as our esteemed vice president has termed it, but a national one. Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., should work to scrap this destructive bill and start over, pushing a policy that puts renewable resources such as wind and solar power in the forefront, and thus putting the health and security interests of the country (and certainly of their constituents in Nevada) over those of business.

WILLIAM HUGGINS