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Monday, May 31, 2010
Would You Prefer Google Or Communist China Doing Wind-Power Manufacturing In Nevada?
By Robert L. Candiotti
In the May 4, 2010, Wall Street Journal, in an article by Scott Morrison and Cassandra Sweet with the headline
"Google invests in Wind Farms," it is reported that "Google Inc. has invested $38.8 million in two North Dakota
wind farms, the Internet giant's first direct investment in utility-scale renewable-energy generation."
The
WSJ story says "Google Inc. has invested in wind farms built by NextEra Energy Resources, a unit of FPL Group
Inc." The article also says General Electric Co. has made the wind turbines.
Google (as well as other unnamed
investors) and U.S. companies are developing large-scale wind farms. Therefore, I immediately had to wonder why is there so
much hype in Las Vegas - where I live - about Communist China establishing a wind power manufacturing plant in Nevada?
Regarding the Nevada investment of A-Power Energy Generation Systems, with headquarters in China, an April 28, 2010,
Las Vegas Sun article by Richard N. Velotta titled "Planned wind-turbine plant gathers gust of momentum"
quotes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as stating that A-Power "will put more than 1,000 Nevadans back to work and
help our nation in its effort to achieve energy independence."
I am not impressed.
I feel compelled to speak out.
Would not American companies also create those 1,000 jobs? And would
there not be U.S. companies that have the ability, interest and funding to engage in domestic wind-power manufacturing in
Nevada?
Reid even goes on to say, "If we play our cards right, this project would be just one of many more
to come."
Many more to come? OMG. What is the basis of this gushing enthusiasm for Communist China moving
into Nevada with wind-power manufacturing in the Libertarian State?
Perhaps I am wrong, but I must think
there are U.S. companies who would be just as interested in developing wind-power manufacturing in Nevada as the Communist
Chinese.
I guess is it up to me to ask this question: Would you prefer Google, and associated U.S. companies, or
Communist China developing wind-energy in Libertarian Nevada?
If you care to read an elaboration of my feelings about Nevada-China business partnerships, go to a page that I have
recently written titled "Nevada-Communist China Surrealism" at www.greenairport.net/id20.html
6:43 am pdt
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
New York Has Statue Of Liberty; Las Vegas Has Statue Of Libertarianism
By Robert L. Candiotti
In 1885, the Statue of Liberty (officially titled "Liberty Enlightening the World") arrived in New York Harbor
as a gift to the United States from France.
A little more than a century later, in 1997, New York-New York Hotel
& Casino in Las Vegas opened on the Las Vegas Strip with a half-size replica (150 feet tall) of the famous Statue of Liberty.
For many decades, New York City had millions of immigrants and travelers on ships from all around the world who
passed by the stunning statue upon arrival at America.
More recently, in the American West, millions of tourists
to Las Vegas, Nevada, have seen the powerful replica of the extremely famous statue as they pass by on Las
Vegas Boulevard.
As a resident of Las Vegas from more than a decade now, probably hundreds of times I have seen
the quite large New York New York Hotel & Casino Statue of Liberty that stands majestically and reassuringly over the
Tropicana Boulevard/Las Vegas Strip intersection.
Recently, I have started thinking of Las Vegas' statue
as the Statue of Libertarianism.
Lately, also, I have been thinking a lot about the future of libertarianism
in Nevada. Over the next few years, libertarianism in Nevada, I sense, will be tested.
The image of a huge
Statue of Libertarianism standing majestically over the Las Vegas Strip helps me to think positively that the libertarianism
culture of Nevads can endure.
5:34 pm pdt
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Global Hydrocarbon Consumption Will Decline, But Jet Travel Itself Is Bound To Expand
By Robert
L. Candiotti
Recent news that Pratt & Whitney's new jet engine is 16 per cent more fuel-efficient, quieter
and less polluting than airplane engine predecessors provides additional evidence that jet travel is here to stay.
Pratt & Whitney says it has invested $1billion in the improved engine technology over about 20 years.
Airplane engines that consume less fuel and make less noise will play a key role in new jet plane investments.
Hydrocarbon fuel consumption in general is eventually going to decline over the next several decades, but
use of hydrocarbon jet fuel consumption is probably bound to increase.
To me, the world is addicted to air travel.
And the commercial aviation industry is thoroughly committed to satisfying this addiction.
An example of this is
the creation of the new long range, twin-engine Boeing 787, which, though delayed several times, will most likely emerge
as an improved fuel-efficient airliner to be used by many worldwide air carriers. Also relevant is the enormous Airbus
A380 jetliner that has already been delivered to several aviation customers, and will continue to be delivered to global long-haul
air carriers for many years to come.
Across the board, over a long expanse of time, hydrocarbon fuel consumption (petroleum
and coal) will be reduced, but airplane travel itself - burning jet fuel - looks like it is probably
destined to grow.
As noted in the May 11, 2010, posting on this blog, writer Martin Jacques, in When China
Rules the World, says "there will be 100 million outward-bound Chinese tourists by 2019."
International
jet travel is most likely bound to expand.
However, to repeat the constant point of this website, IvanpahValley.com,
if Ivanpah Valley Airport is not constructed in Southern Nevada, Las Vegas connectivity will not remain strong enough
to stay amongst the main lines of global travel.
4:44 pm pdt
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
If Ivanpah Airport Is Not Built, Lack Of Airport Infrastructure Could Result In Tourism Failure
By Robert L. Candiotti
According to When China Rules the World by Martin Jacques, published in 2009, the number of tourists from China will
continue to expand by staggering numbers.
Writes Jacques, "The United Nations World Tourism Organization predicts,
rather conservatively, that there will be 100 million outward-bound Chinese tourists by 2019 (compared with almost 28 million
in 2004)."
Also, an abundance of information from various sources states dozens of new airports - costing
many billions of dollars - are being built in China.
Las Vegas is a very distant destination for residents
of China, but it will certainly be attractive to many millions of Chinese tourists if China-Las Vegas connectivity is
convenient.
It clearly seems to me if the new Ivanpah Valley Airport is not built in Southern Nevada, lack
of expanded, modern, long-haul airport infrastructure could result in monumental failure to capture the huge outward-bound
Chinese tourism that would logically be attracted to Las Vegas.
8:27 pm pdt
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Before Cogitating About Monorails, Maglevs And Ivanpah, I Drink Coffee And Listen To KUNV
By Robert L. Candiotti
Almost every morning at home in Las Vegas, Nevada, this is how I begin my day:
I drink several cups of thick, delicious coffee,
and I listen to KUNV 91.5 FM radio. I like the programming a lot. During the week, starting usually about 4 or 5 a.m., I listen
to jazz with Bob Parlocha. Parlocha spins both jazz standards and excellent things I have never heard before. This goes
on for hours and hours.
At times, the music Parlocha plays gets deep in my head, or sometimes far
into my chest, and the present moment turns fluid.
Perhaps this is because of intoxication from one cup of
coffee too much.
On the weekends, I enjoy the station's Brazilian Hour and Mezcla. These are also early morning
programs. The music is sometimes transcendent.
KUNV both soothes and stretches my mind. It provides an enriching
way to start the day.
A few months ago I became a member of the station. There has not been a moment of regret.
The FM station - based at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas - keeps me mellow and mindful through
the transition from night to day (and migration from an ethereal level to the Earthly plane) before I
once more burden my brain over monorails, maglevs, Ivanpah Valley Airport, Nevada's libertarian meaning and
the future of Las Vegas connectivity.
And is KUNV making my writing more jazzy?
No question about it.
KUNV-FM is a cultural treasure. I value its presence in Las Vegas.
KUNV can also be heard live stream on the Internet.
9:12 pm pdt
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For a summary of the history of the need for Ivanpah Valley Airport, click here.
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