In Business Las Vegas, September 28th, 2007
Nevada
Sen.
Harry
Reid
is pushing forward with his plans to develop renewable energy in
Nevada
rather than less environmentally friendly sources.
In recent weeks
Reid
, D-Nev., has released a report on the growing unpopularity of coal-power plants across the country and introduced legislation that would help fund the construction of power transmission lines from renewable energy fields to areas with high energy demand.
"I recently came out in opposition to the proposed coal-power plants,"
Reid
said in a statement. "But I want to do more than just voice my opinion. I want to be part of the solution. The Clean Renewable Energy and Economic Development Act will help
Nevada
become the leader in renewable energy and energy independence."
Reid
said he is introducing the legislation in an attempt to make renewable energy development more affordable and to counter arguments that coal plants are necessary to finance construction of transmission lines in
Nevada
.
Reid
recently released a report highlighting the number of states that have canceled planned coal plants in recent years due to the high cost and concerns over pollution.
Sierra Pacific Power Co., which is behind one of two planned coal-fired electric plants in eastern Nevada
, has said that developing coal-fired plants is the only feasible way to make
Nevada
less dependent on outsiders for its energy. It's a position supported by
Sen.
John
Ensign
, R-Nev.
Energy independence is at the center of both agendas. The state imports nearly 50 percent of its electricity. About 75 percent of
Nevada
's power comes from natural gas, which Sierra Pacific
President
Michael
Yackira
described as "highly volatile and expensive."
Coal plants would provide cheaper, in-state electric production, although the coal would have to be imported from out of state.
"We must increase our self-generation capability, and the only realistic solution in the immediate future is to have a balanced energy portfolio that includes coal along with renewables and natural gas,"
Yackira
said. "A balanced portfolio helps assure reliability of electric service for our citizens but also protects them from too much reliance on one resource and leaving us susceptible to price and/or supply volatility."
He points out that
Nevada
is already a leader in renewable energy production and will continue to grow its renewables portfolio with increased development of solar, geothermal and wind powered energy. "We are the No. 1 state per capita in providing geothermal power and, by year end, will be No. 1 in solar,"
Yackira
said.
A major hurdle in developing renewables is the cost, particularly the cost of running transmission lines from energy producing sites commonly located in remote areas to the areas that actually need the electricity.
Reid
estimated the cost of connecting energy-sucking Southern Nevada
with energy sources in northern and eastern Nevada
at about
Reid
's proposal would not fully fund the construction of such lines, but would authorize up to $600 million. He said that is roughly the same amount that would be spent importing coal in the first two years of electricity production at a coal-fired plant. $10 billion in bonding for government efforts to construct such lines in areas where no power companies step forward to build them.
