Alternate energy probably still decades away

Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007 | 8:02 a.m.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been quite vocal in his opposition to several coal-fired power plants being proposed for construction in Nevada. His choice is to use geothermal, solar and wind as sources for generating electricity.

Although I agree with the senator that our state is blessed with all of these natural sources of energy in abundance, I can't help but speculate on how soon those resources can be tapped to provide energy to Nevada. Inevitably, when any "big power company" proposes any sort of power plant, the lawsuits come flooding out of the woodwork.

You want to cover how many acres with solar panels? Oh, dear, what about the endangered loco weed? Let's sue.

You want to drill near hot springs? How will that affect the purple-nosed hot-water pupfish? Let's sue.

Windmills? Did you say windmills? Oh, the birdies will be hit by the spinning blades. Let's sue.

I would love to see Nevada make use of these natural energy sources. I would love to see legislation (backed by funding) that requires every new school built in Clark County to have solar panels on the roof. I would love to see that legislation include public buildings. I would love to see responsible use of geothermal energy expanded. I would dearly love to see acres of solar panels in some of the vast stretches of Mojave desert.

But, honestly, I don't expect to see these things any time soon. Instead, I expect to see the obstructionists and lawyers having a field day trying to stop the "exploitation of our wilderness areas."

Sorry, Harry. We need the energy in our lifetimes, and you and I are getting up there in years. We'd better go with the coal.

David Adams,

Las Vegas

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