Stephanie Tavares

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Story Archive

Feds snatch counties’ share of money from geothermal leases: Without the funds, rural governments struggle to provide basic services; Wednesday, July 21, 2010; Rural Nevada counties have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in income over the past year because of a federal money grab that has yet to be reversed.
Republic's purchase of Evergreen could bring recycling boost: Tuesday, July 20, 2010; Recycling in Las Vegas finally may become the norm, thanks in part to Republic Services’ purchase of the Las Vegas-based recycling company Evergreen.
Battered women of recession: Monday, July 19, 2010; When she was a young woman, Peggy Tauber was on top of the world. She loved her job as a secretary, was married, had a child and a beautiful home. Then life threw Peggy a few curve balls. She divorced her husband after seven years. She lost the beautiful home, the comfortable lifestyle. But she still had a job and her daughter. At least until the Great Recession.
Legislation would grant states revenue from clean-energy projects: Reid, Heller seek to change BLM policy on leasing solar sites; Saturday, July 17, 2010; Nevada could finally make some money off the dozens of giant solar arrays and wind farms planned for its deserts and mountain peaks if legislation introduced by Rep. Dean Heller and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid passes.
NV Energy fares poorly in customer satisfaction survey: Wednesday, July 14, 2010; NV Energy came in dead last in customer satisfaction in the annual J.D. Power and Associates Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study for large utilities in the western United States.
Harry Reid, Dean Heller back clean energy legislation: Wednesday, July 14, 2010; Congressman Dean Heller and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today introduced legislation that would extend royalties and lease income from solar and wind projects to home states and counties. "This bill will ensure the legacy of renewable energy development in Nevada and across the west," Heller said.
Republic Services, Evergreen Recycling announce merger: Tuesday, July 13, 2010; Republic Services is acquiring Las Vegas-based recycling company Evergreen Recycling, the companies announced today.
EPA releases tips to avoid overexposure to sun: Tuesday, July 13, 2010; Nevada has some of the highest ultraviolet radiation levels in the nation but with careful steps, Las Vegans can avoid the worst impacts of exposure to the sun, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
New solar test zone brightens the future of Las Vegas: Friday, July 9, 2010; In the 1950s, the Nevada Test Site provided the evidence that U.S. nuclear capability was far ahead of the rest of the world’s. The federal reservation 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas is now tasked with making the nation the global leader in solar power.
Solar research facility planned for Nevada Test Site: Thursday, July 8, 2010; Nevada took another step on Thursday toward becoming a world leader in the solar energy field. The state will be home to the nation’s first solar research testing ground, planned for the Nevada Test Site.
Bottom feeders muscling other species out of way: Invasive carp not content to just swim in the mud; they’re destroying other fish habitats; Tuesday, July 6, 2010; In the depths of Nevada’s streams and reservoirs lies a voracious bully of a fish bent on becoming king of the bottom feeders. Carp — ugly brown fish from Europe and Asia that can grow to more than three feet long and 35 pounds in Nevada waters — are eating most of the food and damaging the nesting habitat for native fish and birds in waters across the state.
Wet winter set stage for big fire threat: Extra inch of rain means there’s lots more to burn; Saturday, June 26, 2010; Every thunderstorm or carload of tourists near Tom Paddon’s Mount Charleston home worries him. The 55-year-old knows one lightning strike, unattended barbecue or carelessly tossed cigarette can send a wall of flames down the canyon in which he lives.
Bill seeks to expedite land leases to solar developers: State would get money, but critics say auction plan would slow some projects; Tuesday, June 22, 2010; Solar energy could finally directly contribute to government coffers in Nevada if legislation proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Rep. Dean Heller becomes law.
Remote California town blazes trail with solar plant that saves water: New technology uses less water, which suits Nevada’s climate; Sunday, June 13, 2010; On the southern horizon is a new breed of solar plant, one that could be a game changer for the industry. Just across the California border, Nipton has unveiled a sun-powered generator that is expected to provide about 85 percent of the town’s electricity over the course of a year.
State promoting small-scale urban solar development: Friday, June 11, 2010; Even though Nevada’s coffers are nearly empty, that shouldn’t be an obstacle to a new tack to grow the state’s solar energy industry.
NV Energy hopeful waste wood will become an energy source: By 2025, a quarter of Nevada’s energy must come from renewable sources; Tuesday, June 8, 2010; NV Energy’s experimental use of wood chips in one of its coal plants was a bit of a flop, but the utility and state officials are hoping it will wind up being the first step toward using waste wood that is stacking up in Nevada.
Bottom feeder’s arrival in Nevada lakes worries wildlife officials: Saturday, June 5, 2010; Move over quagga and zebra mussels, a new invasive mollusk is making waves in Nevada. Sport fishermen and state wildlife officials are worried about New Zealand mudsnails after a colony of the tiny critters was found on a boat ramp at Lake Tahoe last week.
State reveals plan to step up solar energy development: Friday, June 4, 2010; Nevada is serious about going solar. The state already has more solar energy per capita than any other, but with its small population that hasn't meant much to solar developers and manufacturers. Enter the state Office of Energy.
Teen named Nevada's new environmental youth ambassador: Wednesday, June 2, 2010; Lidiya “Lida” Kilchenko is Nevada’s new “environmental youth ambassador.” The 17-year-old Advanced Technologies Academy junior will represent the state in Australia this summer and will work to make Nevada a cleaner, more energy- and water-efficient state upon her return.
Geothermal energy loses a bit of its steam: Monday, May 31, 2010; Geothermal energy development is a growth industry for Nevada, even though it doesn’t look as hot as it did a couple of years ago. In the latest leasing of BLM parcels, geothermal energy developers picked up more than 284,000 acres.
Water Authority eyes power for pipeline plan: Monday, May 31, 2010; Southern Nevada Water Authority is on the verge of getting into the geothermal power business. The water agency purchased a lease on 4,473 acres south of Ely from the Bureau of Land Management.
UNLV researchers take role to boost, not undermine, nuclear industry: Tuesday, May 25, 2010; The potential future of American nuclear waste is again in Nevada’s hands — but this time it has nothing to do with under-mountain storage. The U.S. Energy Department on Thursday awarded two UNLV research programs $1.45 million in grants.
EPA files charges over hazardous waste dumping in Northern Nevada: Monday, May 24, 2010; The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency files hazardous waste dumping charges against Gardnerville businessman Reed Skenandore.
A day to celebrate endangered plants and animals: Fish and Wildlife Service wants people to enjoy endangered species; Friday, May 21, 2010; Raise a glass to your favorite pupfish, Southern Nevadans, because today is Endangered Species Day. Perhaps this is the first you’re hearing of it. The auspicious day, when we celebrate the critters we haven’t quite managed to annihilate, is in its fifth year.
Stricter EPA rules to affect Las Vegas' air quality compliance: Friday, May 21, 2010; Jared Blumenfeld is director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9, where he oversees U.S. environmental policy in Nevada, California, Arizona, Hawaii, the Pacific islands and 140 Western tribal nations.
Brookings Institution leader Strobe Talbott to speak at UNLV: Wednesday, May 19, 2010; Strobe Talbott has been tracking — and making — international news for decades. He was Time magazine’s principal correspondent on Soviet-American relations through the 1980s. Then he became deputy secretary of state for his college buddy and fellow Rhodes Scholar, Bill Clinton, from 1994-2001.
State energy office extends deadline for appliance rebates: Friday, May 14, 2010; The Nevada State Office of Energy this week has extended the deadline for people who've made reservations for appliance rebates to mail in their applications.
Utilities see bright side to new Senate energy legislation: Friday, May 14, 2010; Two East Coast senators unveiled climate-change legislation Thursday aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the U.S. and lessening the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, but the bill likely will have little effect locally.
Climate change creating boom of allergy-causing plants: Plant life’s pollen assault on desert dwellers is only going to get more pronounced, experts say; Thursday, May 13, 2010; Itchy eyes and swollen sinuses — these are the signs of spring in Las Vegas. And parts of summer. Oh, and a bit of fall, too. It wasn’t always like this. There was a time when people suffering from respiratory illnesses flocked to the Mojave Desert to escape allergens. But then their neighbors planted olive and mulberry trees, and what was once a haven became hell for a growing number of residents.
Las Vegas man added to EPA fugitive list: Tuesday, May 11, 2010; A Las Vegas man was added to the EPA fugitive list today after failing to surrender to federal authorities following his indictment for criminal violations of the Clean Air Act.
Energy chief stuns environmentalists with renewable energy approach: Tuesday, May 11, 2010; Nevada’s energy director dropped a bombshell a few weeks ago when he issued a combat-themed declaration about renewable energy. Some involved with such projects say it revealed Jim Groth to be ill suited for his post.
On a path to energy efficiency: FERC chairman preaches proactive management of electricity demand as precursor to smart grid; Friday, May 7, 2010; When Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff came to town this week to speak to thousands of energy experts and engineers from across the U.S., it marked his return to the state that made him what he is today.
Talking trash: Seeking ways to take out persistent problem: Wednesday, May 5, 2010; Last year more than 3,700 cubic yards of illegally dumped trash was hauled off public land in Southern Nevada. Even if you spread it out over a football field, that garbage would be almost two feet deep. And that’s just the amount found and removed from public land.
Nevada Small Business Development Center gets energy efficiency grant: Friday, April 30, 2010; The Nevada Small Business Development Center is among seven small business incubators awarded federal grants aimed at energy efficiency. The NSBDC will receive $125,000 under the program. It is the second year it has received a grant under the U.S. Small Business Administration program.
New EcoCentre recycling complex could help planet and economy: Thursday, April 29, 2010; By early 2011, Republic Services should have its massive EcoCentre recycling complex completed in North Las Vegas, and hopes are that the “Eco” part of its name might also stand for “economic development.”
Solar manufacturer First Solar buying developer NextLight Renewable Power: Wednesday, April 28, 2010; Solar manufacturer First Solar is buying solar developer NextLight Renewable Power in an estimated $285 million deal, the companies announced today.
New wave of solar plants could worsen air quality: Monday, April 26, 2010; The most popular type of industrial solar technology has a dirty little secret: Many of these plants are not emission-free.
Weatherization program proves popular: Thursday, April 22, 2010; Easter Seals of Nevada has long trained people with disabilities for careers, but recently it began training able-bodied folks to audit buildings’ energy use and to modify buildings to reduce their cooling and heating costs.
Gibbons appoints Mark Amodei to Colorado River Commission: Tuesday, April 20, 2010; Gov. Jim Gibbons today announced the appointment of Northern Nevada state senator Mark Amodei to the Colorado River Commission.
State appoints new engineer on water issues: Monday, April 19, 2010; The state of Nevada has appointed Jason King as the new state engineer. King is an engineer and has worked for the Division of Water Resources for more than 19 years.
Nuclear advocate scours Nevada seeking converts: Saturday, April 17, 2010; Many Nevadans are passionate about nuclear energy. The state’s population overwhelmingly opposes the planned nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain. But hundreds of miles north of the mountain is a man dedicated to changing Nevadans’ thinking on nuclear energy.
'Strike force' aims to learn why state lacks renewable energy projects: Friday, April 16, 2010; Nevada is launching a "strike force" to find out why the state is not getting more renewable energy projects.
Storms haven't reversed Lake Mead's low water levels: Thursday, April 15, 2010; Although the El Niño has brought large storms to the southwest, it hasn't been enough to reverse the shrinking of Lake Mead, Southern Nevada Water Authority staff reported at the agency's monthly board meeting Thursday.
Bridge is part journey and part destination: Wednesday, April 14, 2010; After being awed by Yosemite, Esther Hanner drove alongside a man-made wonder in the making just outside Boulder City. “We were on our way back to Nashville and we came around one of those hairpin turns at Hoover Dam and looked up and saw just those columns they had up at that time,” she recalls.
Recommendations made on curbing effects of wind farms: Tuesday, April 13, 2010; The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today delivered to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recommendations on minimizing wind farms' impacts on wildlife and its habitat.
Las Vegas can’t handle another era of unimpeded growth, study says: Monday, April 12, 2010; A report says that if the Las Vegas Valley’s population grows to capacity, even the most stringent water conservation measures won’t be enough to ensure that everyone has enough H2O.
Access to more natural gas may bring down bills: Pipeline expansion will help local utility plants keep costs down; Friday, April 9, 2010; A planned expansion of a natural gas pipeline in northern Utah could lower a surcharge on Las Vegas Valley electric bills by the end of next year.
Nuclear industry suing feds to stop Yucca payments: Monday, April 5, 2010; The Nuclear Energy Institute and several nuclear energy companies are suing the federal government over fees their customers pay for nuclear waste management programs.
Democrats celebrate successes, raise cash at Jefferson Jackson Dinner: Former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore gives keynote speech; Saturday, March 27, 2010; Hundreds of Nevada Democrats met in Las Vegas Saturday to raise money for their state and national candidates and to celebrate the political successes of the past year.
With summer approaching, some sweating out how to pay power bills: Wednesday, March 24, 2010; While most people are raving about the warm early spring days, the weather has Glenn Tshudy dreading the summer, when he will run his air conditioning round-the-clock at his Henderson home.