Columnist Tom Gorman: Kenny Guinn would be a good choice to steer the energy initiative proposed by Bill Clinton

Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005 | 7:49 a.m.

Tom Gorman's column runs Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at tom.gorman@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-2310.

I've got a job for Kenny Guinn when he's done being governor next year.

It's got nothing to do with running the beleaguered Clark County School District. He'd be good as its superintendent, for sure, but he's been there, done that.

We need him as the point man in establishing Nevada as center stage in taking the alternative-energy industry to the next level.

In various ways, the state has been promoting a solar energy industry for years. The state's Commission on Economic Development has been pursuing it, and Guinn's energy adviser is on the case too.

But I agree with remarks last weekend by former President Clinton. He said the need has never been greater for alternative energy sources such as solar and wind, and that no place is better situated than Southern Nevada to nurture the industry. We need to do this, for Nevada's sake and the nation's.

Clinton brought a sense of urgency to the issue, which was the centerpiece of his speech to members of the Nevada Development Authority. It's an organization of business and civic leaders trying to diversify our local economy.

Clinton's remarks seemed well received. But how long before they are forgotten?

Former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., has the same concerns. "The speech got me fired up," said Bryan, a big solar proponent. "But it's something that, six weeks from now when other priorities come up, might slip away and fly off the radar screen."

"I hope this won't fall by the wayside," said Howard Hughes Corp. executive Tom Warden.

So how do we keep alternative energy at the top of the state's agenda?

"We need to get a point man on this," says Robbie Graham, president of Nevada Title Co.

Guinn, I say.

"And it has to be someone who has the time to take this on as a full-time job," said Paul Stowell, senior vice president of Business Bank of Nevada.

Guinn.

"This would be a statewide initiative, so it should come from the governor's office," said Pat Shalmy, CEO of Nevada Power.

Guinn.

"It has to be somebody in the public sector," said Sen. Bryan. "Somebody with a high profile."

Guinn.

Who better, really? He's been governor (public sector, check), chairman of PriMerit Bank (private sector, check), president and chairman of Southwest Gas Corp. (energy business, check), and interim president of UNLV (research and development, check).

Granted, he's governor for another year, so he's not able to immediately take charge of this campaign. That's okay. The Nevada Development Authority can start laying the groundwork.

"We'll put together a group, with funding, to take a look at this," said Don Snyder, the recently retired president of Boyd Gaming. "We want to make sure there really is potential and not just go after it because President Clinton thought it's a good idea."

Somer Hollingsworth, president of the Nevada Development Authority, already is on board with Clinton's thinking. "It's a great idea and concept," he said. "I'm energized. I've thought about solar power but not in the vein he talked about it."

Alas, there are signs of bickering over who should participate in this effort.

The NDA wants the ground-level action. Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt said the statewide economic development commission she chairs is the logical organization to promote a clean-energy industry. And Rebecca Wagner, Guinn's energy adviser, said the state's Task Force for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation is best suited to take the lead.

That's why we need Guinn to shepherd this initiative. He's not an acronym. He's not a task force. He's not a commission. He's a proven leader who is perfectly fit for this job.