Nevada committee passes renewable energy bill
Tuesday, March 29, 2005 | 8:02 a.m.
CARSON CITY, Nev. - A Nevada Senate committee on Tuesday passed a bill that would reward the state's two largest utility companies for helping customers install renewable energy products in their homes.
SB188 would give Sierra Pacific Power Co. of Reno and Nevada Power Co. of Las Vegas credits toward conservation obligations for every kilowatt hour saved through renewable energy measures.
The bill is the result of legislation passed in 2001 that beefed up renewable energy requirements for the utilities. The requirements would increase incrementally until 2013, when utilities will be expected to produce 15 percent of their energy through solar, wind or geothermal sources.
Don Soderberg, chairman of the state Public Utilities Commission, told the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee at an earlier hearing that the bill will help the companies meet the requirements, which until now have not been fulfilled because renewable power plants have not been constructed as planned.
The bill would apply to projects installed after January 1, 2005 and the utilities would get more credits for savings that occur during peak times.
Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, said she did not want to hold up the legislation, but she was concerned that older homes, many of which are in her district, will not be prime targets for installing the measures and that newer developments will be the only beneficiaries.
"I don't want those areas to be left out," she said. "I just wanted to make sure that this policy addresses everyone."
Soderberg said the utilities would probably focus on retrofitting newer homes because it is more cost-effective.
Carlton will work with the utilities on a statement that will outline their commitment to increasing energy efficiency in all homes.
Some details of how the program will be run are yet to be worked out, but Soderberg said utility companies and residents would share the cost of installing renewable energy products such as water-cooled air conditioners, which act like regular air conditioners but are much more efficient.
Soderberg said customers who reduce their energy consumption through conservation and renewable energy certainly would see a drop in their rates, and rates for other customers would not rise measurably and would probably even drop in the long run.
The bill now goes to the Senate Floor for a full vote.
--
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Sarah Palin wasn’t a disaster, but Obama is
- CityCenter’s Mandarin Oriental makes Vegas debut
- Kimbo Slice not enjoying cutting weight for first time
- As national jobless rate improves, LV sees signs of trouble
- Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on, March date likely
- Kruger may soon seek more disciplined shot selection
- Sub-freezing temperatures hit Las Vegas
- Del Sol seeks upset against powerhouse Bishop Gorman
- Court upholds sex conviction for Las Vegas magician
- UNLV president denies reports of Livengood as new AD
Blogs
The Kats Report
Kirk Kerkorian: CityCenter is 'simply the most amazing' Vegas project ever (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Great Santa Run: Unofficial 14,595 runners would be a new record
Elsewhere
Rampage Jackson to return to UFC (3 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Superintendents want state to immediately seek Race to Top funds
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: The great Jennifer debate (2 Comments)
The Kats Report
From Eva Longoria Parker to a cluster of execs, crowd takes a shine to Crystals (4 Comments)
Elsewhere
Harry Reid's recipe for getting health-care deal done (10 Comments)
Calendar »
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
- 7 Mon
- 8 Tue
- 9 Wed
-
Chickenfoot at The Joint
The Joint | 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale at the Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms | 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Great Santa Run at Town Square
Town Square | 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
-
Willie Nelson at Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Cash'd Out at Aliante Station
Aliante Station Casino and Hotel | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Brooks & Dunn at the Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
Ron White performs at the Mirage
Terry Fator Theatre
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












