Friday, March 28, 2008
Even David Copperfield Could Not Make The Commercial Aviation Industry Disappear
By Robert L. Candiotti
Is commercial aviation here to stay?
According to statistics provided by James Burnley - U.S. Secretary
of Transportation from 1983 to 1987 - to futureairport magazine (Issue 1 2008), commercial airlines in the world
scheduled 29.6 million flights in 2007.
This amounts to an average of 80,987 individual take-offs every single
day!
So, the question is not if air travel is necessary, but how it can be the most efficient, effective, enlightened
and environmentally intelligent.
Naturally, the same applies to Ivanpah Valley Airport.
10:34 am pdt
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Is The Future Of Nevada's Energy Success Riding On A 250-Mile Transmission Line?
By Robert L. Candiotti
In a February 28, 2008, Nevada Appeal article written by Rob Sabo of Northern Nevada Business Weekly,
the need for a trans-Nevada energy transmission line is explained simply.
Steve Munson, chief executive officer
of Vulcan Power Co., is referred to as saying northern and southern Nevada have separate power grids that are not interconnected.
What this means is, essentially, Sierra Pacific Power of Reno and Nevada Power of Las Vegas - of the same
parent company - are not linked for exchange of power.
State authorities and academics are repeatedly emphasizing
that development of Nevada's sizable geothermal, wind and solar resources are essential for a robust energy future.
On the Nevada Power Co. website, nevadapower.com, it is stated the proposed 250-mile north-south transmission line "will
allow for the movement of solar power developed in southern Nevada to northern Nevada. Northern Nevada's abundant genothermal
power will be sent south on the new line."
Perhaps the transmission line is controversial now, but, in view
of Nevada's Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires 20 per cent of the state's power come from newable resources
by 2015, the transmission line is an intelligent and necessary enhancement for Nevada's energy supply, this blog believes.
In a January 25, 2008, Las Vegas Review-Journal article by John G. Edwards, Nevada's Governor Jim
Gibbons is said to be expected to authorize the study of possible ways to finance the 250-mile transmission line, as well
as feeder lines for the connection of various geothermal, wind and solar sites. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada has said
he is in favor of progress toward the construction of the transmission line.
8:12 pm pdt
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Renewable Energy Backers Hold Rally In Reno, Nevada, March 15, 2008
By Robert L. Candiotti
An article in the March 16, 2008, edition of the Las Vegas Review-Journal caught my attention.
With
the headline "Renewable energy backers hold rally," written by Martin Griffith of The Associated Press, the story
reports on a rally by renewable energy advocates who are opposed to coal-fired energy expansion in Nevada.
Rallying
in Reno on March 15, it is reported about 50 people gathered in a downtown park to denounce plans to build three coal-fired
plants in eastern Nevada, and to urge a strong commitment to renewable energy expansion in the state.
According to the
article, among other participants, representatives from the Nevada Clean Energy Campaign and Sierra Club were at the rally.
The rally emphasized that U.S. Senator Harry Reid has "taken a strong stand" against coal power proliferation
in Nevada. (See the March 14, 2008, posting of this blog, Ivanpah Airport News).
To me, it is noteworthy when supporters
of renewable energy are motivated enough to hold a public demonstration to gain publicity for the importance of renewable
energy development in Nevada.
As I keep repeating, I think the destiny of Ivanpah Valley Airport is to be a trend-setting
green airport.
12:13 pm pdt
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Toll Roads Don't Seem Like Such A Bad Idea
By Robert L. Candiotti
The March 13, 2008, Las Vegas Sun story by Cy Ryan, "Lawmakers asked to weigh road taxes - and toll
roads," is not the first newspaper story I've read about the possibility of toll roads in Southern Nevada.
There
was a front page Las Vegas Review-Journal article last month about the shortage of funds for highway construction,
and another R-J article by Ed Vogel published October 26, 2007. Both of these touch upon the consideration of toll
roads in Southern Nevada.
From what I have read, toll roads are not allowed under current Nevada law, and, even
if the law could be changed, some Nevada politicians are wary of privately constructed and operated toll roads.
But,
as I put pen to paper today, I think toll roads can be looked upon as actually necessary if the construction of Ivanpah Valley
Airport, currently undergoing an Environmental Impact Statement, comes to pass.
Some motorists passing by Ivanpah
Valley Airport - heading both north and south - will be traveling leisurely with a flexibility of time. Others are going to
be in a huge hurry - i.e., trying to make a flight as a passenger, or delivering cargo that absolutely
must be on the JAL flight to Tokyo! These drivers will be happy to pay if they can just get to the Ivanpah Airport
on time!
Travel efficiency at a price. It doesn't seem strange to me at all. Rather, it can be looked upon
as a real asset in the over-the-horizon era when Ivanpah Valley Airport opens for business in 2017.
And there can
be more to toll roads than just accommodating people who are in a hurry. In his March 13 Sun article, Cy
Ryan writes that some people estimate toll roads "could raise $1 billion over several years."
6:53 am pdt
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Future Of Energy In Nevada Will Include Renewable Resources - Solar, Geothermal, Wind
By Robert L. Candiotti
I read closely the March 7, 2008, article in the Las Vegas Sun by
Phoebe Sweet about threats posed by the microscopic particles emitted from coal-fired plants. The headline for the piece
is "Critics say
tiny particles from coal plants, though within limits, pose threats."
This controversial issue, to me, provides
further evidence that increased coal burning is not in Nevada's future.
Sweet's story is about a proposed
coal plant near Mesquite, Nevada, and I also recall reading last month that work on a new coal-fired plant in Ely, Nevada, will
be delayed two years. Also, it is general knowledge that Senate Majority Lead Harry Reid of Nevada is opposed to coal-burning
power in the state.
In a Reuters story dated July 26, 2007, it was reported that Senator Reid wrote to several
power companies and said, "I am writing to each of you regarding your company's proposal to build new coal-fired
plants in eastern Nevada and to express my strong opposition to those plants."
Senator Reid also said he is opposed
to nuclear power. That is consistent with the position of the Nevada Power Co., which it says has no nuclear power in
its long-term planning.
Nevada Power is strongly in favor of developing renewable, nonpolluting energy resources
- namely solar, geothermal and wind. Senator Reid is outspoken about his commitment to renewable energy, as well. Plus, I
have read that Governor Jim Gibbons believes Nevada's resources need to be developed. It should be added that in August,
2007, the Las Vegas Sun reported 100 UNLV professors and graduate students are working on 25 alternative energy research
projects.
It seems to me Nevada has such an abundance of renewable energy resources - and coal and nuclear seem
to have waning support in the state - the state should enthusiastically face a renewable future and become the national
leader that so many well-positioned and powerful people are now saying is possible.
Of course, it appears a key
component for the statewide success of renewable energy is the building of the 250-mile energy transmission line connecting
Northern and Southern Nevada.
That's another story.
Note: A version of this piece appeared
in the "Readers Respond" column of the Las Vegas Sun, March 10, 2008.
1:42 pm pdt
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Can Launching Of Bullet Train Service Between Madrid And Barcelona Inspire U.S. Authorities?
By Robert L. Candiotti
On February 20, 2008, Spain's first bullet train connection between Madrid and Barcelona went into operation.
Hitting speeds of 186 mph, the 17 brand new trains in the high-speed system, engineered in Germany, are able
to cover the 342 mile distance between Spain's two largest cities in about two and a half hours. The travel time is so
minimal, the high-speed trains can compete with airlines for the business of travelers who want to get from one of the big
Spanish cities to another. Round trip tickets start at $240.
Interestingly, the distance between Madrid and Barcelona
is about the same as between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Constructing more and more facilities, the Spanish
authorities are saying, by 2010, the country will have the world's largest high-speed rail infrastructure, and, by
2020, it will have 10,000 km of high-speed track.
Maybe the accomplishments in Spain will inspire and energize the
American authorities in charge of the development of high-speed trains linking San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as Southern
California and Southern Nevada.
For more information about Spains's bullet trains between Madrid and Barcelona,
see the Planes, Cars, Buses and Trains page of IvanpahValley.com.
4:07 pm pst
