Energy

Utilities report profits up; gas rate increase sought: Tuesday, May 8, 2012; By Steve Green; Las Vegas-based utility companies Southwest Gas Corp. and NV Energy are reporting higher first-quarter profits. Southwest Gas last week said it earned $78.9 million, or $1.70 per share, on operating revenue of $657.7 million.

Cabinet official praises opening of nation’s first solar field on public land near Primm: Tuesday, May 8, 2012; By Conor Shine; Wearing his trademark cowboy hat, blue jeans and a Bureau of Land Management bolo tie, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Monday celebrated the opening of the first large-scale solar installation to begin operation on federal lands. Salazar took a brief tour among the hundreds of thousands of panels that make up the Silver State North Solar project, which covers nearly 600 acres of federal land near Primm.

Court rejects California power company's claim in rate dispute: Thursday, May 3, 2012; By Cy Ryan; The Nevada Supreme Court will not disturb a decision by the state Public Utilities Commission that will cost a California company $1 million.

NV Energy pulls out of wind project because of threatened bird: Monday, April 23, 2012; By Cy Ryan; More studies by the federal government on the future of the sage-grouse have prompted NV Energy to pull out of developing a major wind energy project touted to supply 100,000 homes.

Renewable energy becomes fodder for the culture war at just the wrong moment: Monday, April 23, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; There’s no point hiding from it, especially in Nevada: The clean energy movement, despite rapid gains in recent years, faces a potential crisis as government support withers. I can hear the cheering from many conservatives, whose latest foray into identity politics is contempt for clean energy (more on that later) while either ignorantly or willfully ignoring decades of massive government support for fossil fuels and hydroelectric power such as the Hoover Dam.

NV Energy meets renewable energy goals, yet draws criticism from Reid: Wednesday, April 18, 2012; By Cy Ryan; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may think NV Energy hasn't done enough in developing renewable energy, but the utility has met and exceeded mandates set by the Nevada Legislature.

State agency runs out of money to pay for costly solar power: Tuesday, April 3, 2012; By Cy Ryan; The state’s Office of the Military has run out of money paying for its more expensive solar power. Solar energy costs more now than the conventional electricity supplied by NV Energy.

NV Energy plans to use $14.1 million to offset rate increase: Monday, April 2, 2012; Utilities:; By Cy Ryan; NV Energy has sold 37 of its communication towers for $38.9 million and wants to use $14.1 million to hold down electricity rates in Clark County.

NV Energy windmill program generates rebates, little electricity: Friday, March 30, 2012; Energy:; By Anjeanette Damon; A year ago, a Reno clean energy businessman warned the Public Utilities Commission that if it didn’t set a few standards for NV Energy’s wind rebate program, its customers could end up footing the bill for turbines that rarely produce electricity.

Three hours in Southern Nevada: Tagging along with Obama from start to finish: Thursday, March 22, 2012; By Conor Shine; President Barack Obama kicked off a four-state tour promoting his energy policies Wednesday in a solar field in Boulder City. The president’s visit was short — he stayed in Nevada only three hours before boarding Air Force One to travel to his next stop in New Mexico — meaning there wasn’t time to grab a slice of pizza.

The Solyndra hippies are stealing our money: Thursday, March 22, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Here’s the predictable response to President Barack Obama’s trip to Boulder City’s Copper Mountain Solar plant on Wednesday: Solar is for hippies; government doesn’t create jobs; Solyndra, Solyndra, Solyndra.

Text of the president's speech at Copper Mountain Solar 1: Wednesday, March 21, 2012; White House Press Office; The White House has provided a copy of the remarks made by President Barack Obama during a trip to the Copper Mountain Solar 1 facility in Boulder City.

Obama leaves Nevada after making clean energy pitch: Wednesday, March 21, 2012; By Conor Shine; During a 16-minute speech at the Copper Mountain Solar 1 field, President Barack Obama touted his "all of the above" energy plan. After the speech ended, the president shook hands and greeted the public before returning to the motorcade, which arrived at McCarran Airport at 2:41 p.m. The president quickly made his way onto Air Force One, but not before stopping to give one last wave to Las Vegas from the top of the air stairs and then disappearing into the plane. Air Force One took off at 2:51 p.m. and is now en route to New Mexico.

Obama not the first president to swing through Boulder City: Wednesday, March 21, 2012; Politics:; By Conor Shine; When President Barack Obama makes his way out to Boulder City today to tour one of the nation’s largest solar panel installations, he won’t be the first commander-in-chief to visit the area.

Obama to defend green energy policy at Boulder City solar plant stop: Wednesday, March 21, 2012; politics:; By Karoun Demirjian; Republicans have been pointing an increasingly accusing finger at President Barack Obama’s energy policies the last few weeks, blaming them for gas prices that have steadily risen to more than double what they were when Obama took office.