Editorial: Start a new day for energy

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2006 | 7:08 a.m.

Nevada is in the beginning phase of generating a measurable amount of its electric power from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal. As this transition goes forward, businesses, schools and even individuals should be allowed to play a greater role.

For reasons that are becoming archaic, no entity independent of Nevada Power Co. may generate more than 150 kilowatts of renewable energy a year.

This law was passed partly out of concern that the introduction of renewable energy must be gradual, so that the transition could be efficiently managed. But state law also calls for 20 percent of Nevada's power to be generated from renewables by 2015, a pace that is not being met. It's becoming too late for gradual.

Another concern was that if big users of power made sudden transitions to renewable energy, significantly reducing Nevada Power's revenue, residential ratepayers would see increases or stockholders would see diminished dividends. But in today's world conservation and innovation actually pay.

We are encouraged, then, that the Clark County School Board plans to ask state legislators to raise the 150-kilowatt limit to 2 megawatts. If that were approved, schools would be able to have renewable-energy systems on their campuses that potentially could produce 2 million watts instead of 150,000, enough to run a high school with some left over for sale to Nevada Power.

Schools would deal with independent power companies to create the systems. But even with the companies recovering their costs and earning a profit, schools would immediately save an estimated 10 percent on their annual power bills, according to the district.

We hope the 2007 Legislature sees how beneficial this increase would be. Schools especially would benefit, as the small generating systems would serve as models for students studying energy as part of their science classes. It would bode well for the future to have students growing up with the understanding that renewable energy is indispensable.