| As the nation's capital creates legislation that is likely to | | | | renewable projects are up and running. |
| transform the landscape of America from a fossil-fuel | | | | Up to now, the solution to this dilemma has been to |
| nation toward a renewable energy nation, states like | | | | build more fossil-fuel plants close to existing plants and |
| Nevada - with its abundant sunshine, wide open | | | | tie the plant in to existing transmission. Coal-fired plants |
| spaces and concentrated population located in two | | | | are cheap to build, domestic coal is believed to be |
| major cities - stand to gain. | | | | plentiful, and is also inexpensive, allowing builders to |
| Nevada has already heeded the call of renewables. | | | | recoup their construction costs quite rapidly. |
| Plans for two coal-fired generating plants in White Pine | | | | But let's go back to that plentiful coal. According to a |
| County - by LS Power and Nevada Energy - have | | | | report released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) |
| been canceled. Another coal-fired plant near Mesquite | | | | late in 2008, coal reserves in the Gillette, Wyoming field |
| hit the skids earlier in the year. | | | | are - thanks to reevaluation and a redefining of the |
| Cap-and-trade, which threatens to make global | | | | term "accessible" - a scarce 6 percent of previous |
| warming emissions incrementally more expensive over | | | | estimates. |
| time, is one of the bigger incentives to move away | | | | Another report from 2007, which dismisses previous |
| from coal, oil and natural gas. But another, a $3.2-billion | | | | methods of evaluating coal reserves, suggests that |
| provision hidden away in the economic stimulus bill | | | | actual coal reserves across the country might be |
| passed in February, gives power companies in the | | | | much smaller than previously supposed. In effect, say |
| West access to low-cost loans via the Western | | | | some experts, the U.S. only has enough coal to last |
| Power Authority that will help extend the nation's | | | | about 20 years. |
| transmission system to incorporate renewable | | | | In light of this, it suddenly makes sense to build a |
| energies like solar. | | | | $500-million line between Las Vegas and Ely to carry |
| It's a first step toward a smarter grid, and an essential | | | | solar power. And both LS Power and NV Energy, |
| step if renewable alternatives like solar and wind | | | | having scrapped coal plans, are going ahead with |
| farms, commonly built well outside inhabited areas, are | | | | transmission planning, because Nevada - with its 2005 |
| to reach the thousands in cities who need more | | | | mandate on utilities to provide 9 percent from |
| energy, and would prefer it clean and green. | | | | renewables - is finally catching up, even if four years |
| At least, this is the conclusion reached by a new | | | | late. |
| Roper survey, which shows that almost 90 percent of | | | | Nevada's Senate Bill 358, which will allow NV Energy |
| Americans think new home construction should offer a | | | | to recover conservation losses through higher rates, is |
| solar option. This is up from 79 percent a year ago, | | | | another incentive to go green, even though regional |
| according to the study commissioned by Sharp | | | | enviros regard it as a utility bailout. |
| Electronics Corp. | | | | The 2005 law mandates utilities like NV Energy and |
| The $3.2 provision, introduced by Sen. Harry Reid | | | | Nevada Power to produce 20 percent of power via |
| (D-Nv.), the current Senate Majority head, solves a | | | | renewables by 2015, and 25 percent by 2025. With the |
| long-standing Catch 22: investors are reluctant to | | | | new power line a go, solar energy firms like First Solar |
| finance renewable projects unless the transmission | | | | should begin flocking to Nevada's wide open spaces |
| lines exist to transport it. But investors are also | | | | and 360 days of sunshine a year any time now. |
| reluctant to invest in transmission lines until said | | | | |