Sun editorial:

Standing on the sidelines

Nevada relegated to observer status as other Western states tackle global warming

Fri, Sep 26, 2008 (2:08 a.m.)

Early last year California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger led an effort to create the Western Climate Initiative, a coalition of seven Western states and four Canadian provinces that sought regional solutions in the fight against global warming. It was a bold step for the states, all of which were tired of waiting for action from the federal government.

One notable omission from the group was Nevada, which is listed on the initiative’s Web site as an “observer.” The members banded together to tackle one of today’s most pressing issues, and Nevada took a seat on the sidelines as though it represented flyover country.

In writing about the initiative, Reuters news agency explained last year that Nevada is “California’s neighbor which lacks emission targets and has sought to lure Golden State businesses with tax benefits and other incentives.” In other words, polluters are welcome.

The initiative announced Tuesday that it had devised a plan for a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 through a system whereby polluters can trade with one another for higher emission caps as long as total emission reduction goals are met. Ben Kieckhefer, spokesman for Gov. Jim Gibbons, responded cryptically to the plan when he told Sun columnist Jon Ralston: “Nevada’s position as a growing state and net importer of energy would make a cap and trade type of system detrimental to Nevada’s growth. The governor has focused on ensuring Nevada can utilize its renewable resources.”

You mean the governor who loves new coal-fired power plants and who vetoed legislation last year that would have limited the ability of homeowners associations to ban energy-efficient solar panels? Memo to the governor: The world is passing you by.

Nevada should have been a full partner in the initiative, as it should be for every other issue that affects the West. The fact that we chose to remain a mere observer sends the message to California and other neighbors that we as a state are not mature enough to help solve regional problems.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By KDR81

9/26/08 at 8:31 a.m.

Suggest removal

If all states did what California did we would still make no dent in climate change...especially if any of Al Gore's predictions are right.

On this issue, it is better to be an observer. Most indicators suggest everyone wants to throw $2 at a $1 problem.
By KDR81

9/26/08 at 8:33 a.m.

Suggest removal

Why should a government be allowed to stop homeowner's associations from banning solar panels?

HOA are private organizations whose function is too keep the neighborhood looking nice, and they are a much better alternative than local government regulation and oversight of neighborhoods.

If enviornmentalists can convince their neighbors to change the rules, great, but the government should not force a private ngo to change the rules its members have all agreed to live under.
By redferret

9/26/08 at 11:25 a.m.

Suggest removal

I'm for HOAs in principle, but not in practice. In practice they are often nit-picky and restrictive to the point of being ludicrous. This is one item where the HOAs should butt out. Solar panels do not make a house look ugly and offensive. If anything, yuppies should be eating up the green wave.
By azsk8fan

9/26/08 at 11:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

The government seems to just love to stick its nose in the business of the private sector - I believe they use this as a diversionary tactic, a smoke screen, hoping we will be distracted from the real IMPORTAANT issues by getting caught up in the nonsense. I thought this was a FREE society - seems more and more it's nothing but government controlled and that don't seem too free to me.
By azsk8fan

9/26/08 at 11:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

HOA's can only be as nit-picky as the homeowners allow it to become. If you're in one that's like that you need to get involved, go to the meetings and run for office on the Board - if enough people stand up against the nit-pickers they can turn it around and use the HOA to really benefit the community.
By redferret

9/26/08 at 11:54 a.m.

Suggest removal

Yeah I remember hearing one Christmas recently that an HOA wanted someone to take down their peace sign that they had made of lights on the side of their house. The HOA lost the suit or motion or whatever, still. I mean really forcing homeowners to take down Christmas lights when it's seasonally appropriate? I get that you should yell at the slobs when it's August, and the lights are still up. T'is the season indeed.
By sunreader

9/26/08 at 5:13 p.m.

Suggest removal

So Gore's cry is for Western US Warming? I thought it was GLOBAL warming? Global warming isn't purely a western states issue, hello!