New energy policy would lift Nevada

Scot Rutledge, Las Vegas

Monday, July 26, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

The news last week that the Senate will not take up comprehensive climate and energy legislation is disappointing, but I am very grateful for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s hard work on this issue over the past two years. Additionally, the early and courageous support by Reps. Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus gave Nevadans hope that we would see a new energy policy that would bring jobs to our community.

Nevadans understand that the stakes are too high to ignore climate change when our hotter and drier climate imperils our water supply, public health and our way of life. Nevadans understand the need for diversifying our economy and that comprehensive energy reform will create thousands of new jobs and attract new industries to Nevada.

This clean energy economy will bring much-needed revenue to our state and local coffers. I expect we will hear a lot of commentary from those who either bury their heads in the sand about our energy and climate future or, worse, do the bidding of Big Oil and Big Polluters. Be mindful of their agenda.

They subscribe to a shortsighted doctrine of limited regulations and government oversight, even during the largest environmental disaster in our country’s history.

Please understand — our country has nothing to gain by doing nothing to change our nation’s failed energy policies. Doing nothing is simply a strategy to protect the profits of the oil and coal industries. Fossil fuel costs will only get higher as their supplies diminish. Our failed energy policies, if left unchanged, will continue to threaten our country’s security, our public health and our economy.

The writer is executive director of the Nevada Conservation League.