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StumbleSUN EDITORIAL:
Tapping renewable energy
Nevada falls behind as New Mexico’s government woos industry
Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 | 2:06 a.m.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson signed an executive order Tuesday, pushing his state to “become the center of the North American solar industry.” Richardson’s extensive order calls for state agencies to work aggressively to develop renewable energy technology, which he says will build a “new era of economic vitality and stability.”
In addition to bringing state agencies together to work on renewable energy, Richardson also said he was in favor of expanding the state’s tax credit for renewable energy production. His plan appears to position New Mexico as a national leader in renewable energy.
“New Mexico, with a business-friendly environment and world-class solar resources, is quickly becoming an important hub in the Southwest for solar manufacturing, installation and project development,” said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association. “Despite the recession, New Mexico’s solar industry truly represents an economic bright spot.”
Richardson’s announcement and Resch’s statement should be sobering for Nevada. Our state is business-friendly and it has world-class sources with abundant wind, solar and geothermal potential. But on Gov. Jim Gibbons’ watch, the state hasn’t shown a commitment or the leadership to capture the renewable energy industry. It didn’t help that Gibbons spent much of his term championing coal-fired power plants instead of positioning the state for the future.
Any self-respecting company would see Richardson’s executive order as a clear invitation to New Mexico. That is not to say there haven’t been steps made. There are producers in Nevada, and others are looking at the state. But the state can certainly do more.
There are still some leaders pushing ahead to help Nevada compete against New Mexico and other states in the West. For example, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced last week that stimulus money was going to help build a transmission line across eastern Nevada. NV Energy and LS Power, which had planned two competing lines, agreed to a deal that will create one line that will connect the state’s transmission grid as well as provide an important link for renewable energy producers.
What is needed is more leadership like that. Renewable energy is a good industry — it is sustainable, provides clean power and good jobs. Nevada shouldn’t let New Mexico and other states take the lead. It should be setting the pace.
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"Richardson's extensive? [executive] order calls for state agencies to work aggressively to develop renewable energy technology"
-----------------------
What is amazing is that Bill Richardson had to sign an executive order to get staff to work together.
Good pick up LV Sun.
Comrads, Conventioreers, Party and Committee Members and Polymaths and Socialists ! Cheers !
Nevada now has been given the gift of a lead to follow, overtake, prosper and gently edge out ahead of all the great states in our union and especially New Mexico when it comes to energy renewal businesses setting up shop here. Now that New Mexico, home to the University of New Mexico, has a Gov. who is pronouncingly avid at creating his state as the primary place for energy businesses to headquarter and operate by friendly gernerosity, we in Nevada can take his game plan and surpass it glowingly.
Regretably yet happily, New Mexico cannot touch what Nevada and Las Vegas could offer. This fabulous state has Las Vegas, the greatest city ever in man's history, ready to hold conventions and seminars, ready to entertain and dine, not to mention the greatest movie starts and entertainers in the history of Hollywood. Walk through Encore and Winn and then over to Belliago and Bill's - if that doesn't sell 'em they ain't worth comin' anyway. Is there any place in the universe with greater casinos? Vast land reserves and incredible mountains and sun and wind added to all this and ' wow '!
It is the responsibility of each Nevadian to shake the hand and slap the back of anyone coming here to set up shop. Buy 'em a drink. It is the responsibility of each to set aside impediments such as taxes and harsh regulations and rules that may discourage energy businesses from establishing here. Tour the schools.
The greatest at promotion and self advertisement is Las Vegas and that should put Nevada in total control and in the driver's seat. Use that advantage. The Gov. must immediately enact signings to make this 'heaven' for renewable energy enterprises. Now.
The nice Gov. of New Mexico, as compared to the 'teenagerGov.PalinBimbo' can do what he wishes, but Nevada can easily outpace that. No contest. They can have ENRON by gosh or EXXON in their states.
How in the world can Gov. Gibbs not step up and bang the bass drum right now, set up neon lights, invite companies to Las Vegas on state expense accounts and show them this fabulous place to work and live. Offer big time tax credits and residential discounts to get off to a good start. Offer gas coupons to all employees of new companies setting up in Nevada for the first year of residence so they can drive the entire state and sightsee cheaply. Where in the world is this Govenor? Take off those blinders and get wired, bud! Put Steve Winn in charge of it all. That'll bring it all home for everyone in this state.
Comrads, Committeemen and BlockLeaders ! Merci !
The state needs a balanced energy policy including hydrocarbons. Cheap electricity would have went a long way toward improving the employment and investment situation in the state. Unfortunately a radical energy policy which excludes carbon will mean less for everyone, including less for alternative energy investments.
Wait a minute, I thought Nevada's indispensable man Harry Reid was going to deliver the bacon on "renewable energy"? You mean when the bacon don't get delivered it's someone else's fault?
RHG......
I have a question. What has John Ensign done or Governor "blockhead" done to move Nevada forward in the area of renewable energy?
You love to give Harry Reid a hard time when it comes to renewable energy and you ignore both Ensign & "blockhead." Why is that?
Typical brain-dead right-winger? Apparently!
England recent cold snap: "But sources in the energy industry say that the lack of wind has caused the country's wind farms to grind to a halt when more electricity than ever is needed for heating, forcing the grid to rely on back up from fossil fuels or other renewable energy sources."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/...
Nevada does need to do more. If it weren't for Harry Reid there would be no one in power pushing us towards renewable energy and a diverse economy.
el lobro, Does Senate Majority leader mean anything to you? You can get off your knees, Senator Reid isn't even in the room.
Nevada does need to do more. If it weren't for Harry Reid there would have been someone in power pushing us towards renewable energy and a diverse economy.
LarryVegas.....
You should grow up and give credit where credit is due...
Maybe six more years of Harry's excellent leadership will convince you to start doing that....we can only hope!
Wolfy...
Just about makes me want to throw up...
How many more years should Harry have to make a difference?
el lobro ,it's okay, you don't have to answer to me but you have got to answer to the readers.You know it's OK for an elected official to not succumb to money outside of what he is getting paid by his constituents. You can wrap ribbons around everything Harry Reid does but that doesn't make it right. If you're not 100% United States citizen... you're not.
fremmasmind.......
You and your side-kick, LarryVegas, are in the same row boat. You're rowing hard against the wind, trying to make it across a huge, huge lake, convinced that your wildest dreams will be full-filled once you reach the other side.
In your mind, Harry Reid's political career will come to an end next November.....
The great thing about this country is that you can believe what ever you choose to believe... I choose to believe that there's three things that one should never do....
The three things are, never "piss into the wind," never attempt to steal Superman's cape, and never count Harry Reid out before the match is over...
Harry has been down on the canvas before but he has always gotten up and won the fight. History will repeat itself this Fall. The voters will return Harry to the Senate for six more years....
We "old timers" remember the many great things Harry has done for this state over the last 30+ years, and we won't forget him come election day.....
el lobro good thing you're not Harrys'campaign manager, no I take that back, you ought to try out for the position, he needs someone to take care of him.
I'm not trying to end Happy Harry's political career, he's doing a dang good job on that by himself. You must be in a world of hurt to believe Harry will all of a sudden realize that he has constiuents to take care of. The old timers that are left can't even remember who Harry is. His fame came when he and Sen. Bryant put a stop of the work at Yucca mtn. Yes people , he didn't stand alone in that fight. Yeah el lobro take some time away from the comment boards and go help Prince Harry, he needs you.
RHG......
I have a question. What has John Ensign done or Governor "blockhead" done to move Nevada forward in the area of renewable energy?
You love to give Harry Reid a hard time when it comes to renewable energy and you ignore both Ensign & "blockhead." Why is that?
Typical brain-dead right-winger? Apparently!
____________
Well, let me tell you leftwing knucklehead, the LVSun is constantly tooting Harry Reids horn for him and giving him credit for anything and everything and telling us how we NEED him and his "powerful position". But, then when Nevada gets the short end of the stick on things like renewable energy it all of a sudden becomes the fault of the nearest Republican.
RHG.....
I didn't say it was the fault of the nearest Republican. I just ask the question "what has John Ensign done or Governor "blockhead" done to move Nevada forward in the area of renewable energy?"
I last time I looked, Bill Richardson is the governor of New Mexico. So governors very often work on things of that nature....
fremmasmind......
I see you're doing what you do best.....talking just to be talking! Why am I not surprised?
It seems that Nevada would be the best of all possible worlds for renewable energy. Plenty of sun and lots of wind. There are miles of open spaces otherwise unused. Go for it!
http://www.dasolar.com
Let's see, what else does New Mexico have? Oh yes, two national laboratories that conduct energy research, including nuclear-related; the Alamogordo missile test and training range; and the WIPP mid-level nuclear waste repository. Not to mention a university with a functioning nuclear power plant and associated instructional program, and a business community that welcomes high-tech companies.
What I'm getting at here is for decades, New Mexico's political leaders have consistently supported science and technology programs and welcomed federal dollars to finance them. The business community participated enthusiastically, and their universities became leaders in high-tech fields.
In contrast to Nevada, where Senator Reid managed to eliminate 1,000 jobs at the Yucca Mountain Project during the nation's worst recession in history, resulting in a "brain drain" when those people were forced to leave the state (many of them for New Mexico, btw). Our Congressional delegation ridicules the Department of Energy and tells outright lies about Yucca Mountain. We have a huge dropout rate, and our local university is cutting programs and laying off staff.
If you were the federal government, which state would you be inclined to send federal dollars to? One that supports the Department of Energy or one that doesn't? If you were a high-tech business, where would you be more likely to relocate? A state where people understand a support your mission or someplace where the Development Authority thinks "high-tech" means a call center with multi-line phones? If you were a science or engineering student, which university would you want to attend?
If Nevada wants to "set the pace," I think we're going to need to get rid of our current political establishment, starting with Senator Reid -- and replace them with new leaders who will work FOR Nevadans, not against them.