Brighter day ahead

Sunday, June 13, 2010 | 2:04 a.m.

Nevada should be the nation’s leader in renewable energy, given the abundance of resources — solar, geothermal and wind. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has made a strong push to pave the way for the renewable energy industry to come to Nevada.

Most recently, Reid announced last week with Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., new legislation that would set aside federal land in Lincoln County to be leased for solar energy development. Reid has also worked to bring tax breaks and other support for renewable energy companies, which have helped bring companies to the state and create jobs for Nevadans. For example, a solar company announced this year that it would build a manufacturing plant in Clark County and create nearly 300 jobs, and Reid was credited for his work to bring a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer to Southern Nevada. There are also plans to build a solar plant near Primm.

However, under Gov. Jim Gibbons’ leadership, the state government has been slow to follow Reid’s lead and make a concerted effort to develop the industry here, but it recently took a step in the right direction. As Stephanie Tavares reported in Friday’s Las Vegas Sun, Gibbons announced a plan to bring solar energy to state property. Nevada will ask developers to submit plans to build small-scale installations with their own money. In return, they can charge a fee for electricity or enter into a lease-to-own deal with the state. The companies would also receive tax breaks for providing renewable energy.

The state is basing the plan on a similar project done at the Nevada National Guard headquarters. The expectation is that solar panels would be placed over parking lots, on the tops of buildings and in vacant lots.

Environmentalists applauded the plan. “We’re very pleased to see a good idea come out of this administration’s energy office,” Nevada Conservation League spokesman Scot Rutledge said.

Putting solar panels on buildings and parking lots would reduce many of the concerns that environmentalists have about large-scale solar plants. No large transmission lines will need to be built, nor are animals or any land disturbed.

Increasing the number of solar projects should also help spur the economy and create jobs. State leaders should make renewable energy a priority.

Other states have done similar things, as have other government agencies. There is a solar plant at Nellis Air Force Base and the Southern Nevada Water Authority has installed solar panels at two of its treatment facilities. As well, many companies in Clark County have installed solar panels, as has the Springs Preserve, and have had good success with them.

The state’s plan is a good move and worthwhile. We hope this plan will encourage other governments and businesses to follow suit.