Harnessing wind for energy could be new industry in Nevada

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003 | 9:36 a.m.

The public may comment until Dec. 19 on the possible environmental impacts from building wind farms in Nevada.

The background on harnessing wind power to produce electricity and a site to offer comments to the Bureau of Land Management is available on the Internet at the website: www.windeis.gov

For those who want to send written comments, a toll-free FAX number has been provided at (866) 542-5903.

A hearing Tuesday night in Las Vegas to assess environmental effects from those resources focused on harnessing the wind to generate electricity.

Of the 62 pending applications for generating electricity from wind farms in western states, 33 of them are in Nevada, Watson said Tuesday.

Some day, Nevada may export electricity to its neighbors, California and Arizona, by tapping its alternative energy sources, Watson said. The demand for power nationwide is expected to increase roughly 30 percent by 2020.

"People wouldn't be coming to Las Vegas without air conditioning and cars, which consume energy," Watson said.

Nevada's available public lands and potential wind farm sites close to transmission lines puts the state at the top of the list for this energy alternative, she said.

One promising site with a pending application before the Bureau of Land Management is Table Mountain near Sandy Valley, which has transmission lines that link Nevada, Arizona and California, Watson said.

"Nevada is positioned well to take advantage of these efforts," Watson said during two hearings Tuesday in Las Vegas, one of five western sites where the Bureau of Land Management kicked off hearings to consider environmental impacts from wind power.

As assistant Interior secretary for lands and minerals, Watson steers energy policy for minerals and energy sources as diverse as wind, geothermal and solar generation.

"Nevada is really playing an important role," Watson said during the afternoon and evening hearings that attracted about 30 people.

Since the U.S. economy and the nation's quality of life are based on energy, Watson said the Bush administration is proposing to diversify energy sources for generating electricity. There's been a "healthy discussion" by the president's advisers on conservation and renewable resources, she said.

The key to capturing the power in the wind is in the energy bill which the House passed on Tuesday and the Senate could consider as soon as today, Watson said.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has introduced and supported legislation that is expected to provide a boom to Nevada's economy through tax incentives for renewable energy resources. Alternative energy production reduces pollution and America's dependence on foreign oil, Reid said.