Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Says Yucca Mountain Is History
By Robert L. Candiotti
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has painted a dark picture of the Yucca Mountain Project.
The plan for
a national nuclear waste repository - to be built 80 miles north of Las Vegas - appears to be neither healthy nor hurtling
forward. Apparently, Reid and president-elect Obama have agreed to work against it.
In a November 21, 2008, story
by Steve Tetreault of Stephens Washington Bureau, Reid says, "Yucca Mountain is history, OK? Just watch, we'll see
what happens real soon, just watch. You will see it bleed real hard in the next year."
Reid said in the interview
with Tetreault that he and Obama have already had several discussions about the Yucca Mountain Project.
2:32 pm pst
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Future Of Renewable Energy In Nevada Is Becoming More And More Clear
By Robert L. Candiotti
I spend much of
my time in Las Vegas, and I read the Las Vegas Sun almost every day.
Two days ago, I read a Sun editorial
titled "No on new coal plant."
The editorial comments on the denial by the Environmental Protection Agency
of a coal-burning power plant permit in Utah.
The editorial says this decision "would likely delay plans
for the other coal-fired plants as well. That includes proposals to build three plants in eastern Nevada, which are
all awaiting federal approval."
This caused me to reflect on the current condition of Southern Nevada regarding
a commitment to moving forward with renewable energy.
I composed and e-mailed a letter to the editor. It was printed
in the November 19 Sun. Here it is:
Letter to the editor:
Future is bright for renewables in Nevada
An editorial in Tuesday's Las Vegas Sun, "No on new coal plant,"
has inspired me to mention something I have been reflecting on lately:
The focus and firmness of Southern Nevada's
thinking regarding the possibilities of renewable energy.
With the election of Dina Titus to Congress for
the 3rd Congressional District, there will be one more spotlight in Washington illuminating the subject of sustainable energy.
Titus has been behind sustainable energy development for a long time.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is also
an unyielding advocate for renewables. Last summer's National Clean Energy Summit at UNLV, which he co-sponsored, was
a big success. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley from the 1st Congressional District also states she is a proponent of alternative
energy. She said at last week's Institute for Security Studies energy security luncheon, referring to Nevada, "We
can be the epicenter of renewable energy in the country."
Add to the group that supports the advancement of
alternative energy in Nevada the president-elect. In his speech at the Democratic National Convention, Reid said Barack Obama
"articulates a vision of energy independence that is comprehensive and based on sound science and sound policies."
Speaking of science, UNLV is also a vibrant part of Nevada's renewable energy focus. The university always has
a lot going on with renewable energy research and development. Also, UNLV has sponsored several top energy conferences this
year.
In addition to the questionable future of coal in Nevada, it also should be noted there appears to be absolutely
no interest among authorities in Nevada for nuclear energy development. That makes renewable possibilities even more important.
The future of coal in Nevada may be hazy, but the future of renewable energy here is becoming more and more clear.
6:03 pm pst
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Nevada Still Not Interested In Development Of Nuclear Energy In The State
By Robert L. Candiotti
Yesterday, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Institute for Security Studies luncheon with guest speaker
Dr. Jack Caravelli, I happened to sit at the same table with Thomas Fair, Executive for Renewable Energy at NV Energy (formerly
Nevada Power). NV Energy is Nevada's primary energy company.
I mentioned to him that at the 2007 UNLV Energy
Symposium - held in August of that year - he had said in his presentation that there is no future for nuclear power in
Nevada. I asked him if he thinks that is still the case. He said yes.
Nuclear is not an attractive form of energy
for Nevada, he said.
In today's Las Vegas Sun, in a story by Phoebe Sweet, it appears the future of
coal plants in Nevada is also questionable. A few days ago, the Environmental Protection Agency rejected a permit for a coal
plant in Utah, making approval of three new coal-fired plants in Nevada more unlikely.
Once more, the spotlight
rotates to renewable energy resources and research in the state.
Nevada's energy future again seems tied
to the development of renewable energy - especially solar, wind and geothermal.
1:21 pm pst
Friday, November 7, 2008
Dina Titus, Advocate For Renewable Energy, Elected To House Of Representatives From Nevada
By Robert L. Candiotti
On November 4, Democrat Dina Titus defeated incumbent Republican Jon Porter - 47 percent to 42 percent - for Southern
Nevada's 3rd Congressional District.
During the campaign, there were charges that Porter's election strategy
was to run negative and untrue ads against Titus. Porter's approach was controversial.
In the end,
the voting was not even close.
Titus has been teaching at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for three decades, and
has served in the Nevada Legislature since 1989.
She clearly presents herself as an advocate of renewable
energy. Her website states, "Developing renewable energy resources has been one of Dina's priorities in the legislature."
Since her victory a few days ago, she has already said she is interested in being on Congress' Select Committee
on Renewable Energy.
Titus will now join Nevada's Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Washington as an additional strong
proponent of the advancement of renewable energy. Reid is an outspoken and energetic promoter of renewable energy development.
Titus' election seems to support the advancement of renewable energy in Nevada, and the possibility of building
a trend-setting "green airport" in Ivanpah, 40 miles south of Las Vegas.
4:22 am pst
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Three Of Five Mountain Mega States Have Changed To Blue In 2008 Presidential Election
By Robert L. Candiotti
As opposed to the 2004 election - when all the Mountain Mega states went Republican - a noteworthy three of the five
"Mountain Megas" have gone Democratic in the presidential voting.
The newly-defined Mountain Megas -
Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico - that are being described by the Brookings Institution think tank as
the "new American heartland" - are now being seen as increasingly important to the nation for the five states'
economies, people and politics.
In yesterday's presidential election, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico changed
from being red to being blue.
Nevada favors Obama 56-42 percent over McCain. In 2004, the Republican vote
was 51-48 for Bush. This time, Colorado is 53-45 for Obama. In 2004, it went Republican 52-47. New Mexico favors Obama 57-42.
In 2004, the Republican vote for president exceeded the Democratic number 50-49.
The other two Mountain Mega
states, Arizona and Utah, have stayed red for presidential preference. Arizona is 54-45 for McCain. Utah is 62-35 in favor
of the Republican presidential candidate.
Two remain red, but the fact that three have gone blue is bound to
be relevant to Brookings' notion of the Mountain Megas' "three interrelated dimensions of prosperity
- sustainable, productive and inclusive growth."
About the Mountain Megas, Brookings says, "The region
is neither the Old West, nor the New West. It is the New New West, continuously unfolding."
The results of
yesterday's presidential voting validates the statement.
4:58 pm pst
