Tuesday, February 26, 2008

No kidding? Seriously, this has got to STOP!

Check out the article in the Pahrump Valley Times on Yucca Mountain. A few key words to focus on as you are reading: BILLIONS, uncertainty, plague, 2017, 2020

PRO Nevada on why Jon Ralston is an Idiot

On Sunday, February 24 the Las Vegas Sun posted Jon Ralston's column titled "Jon Ralston on why the governor's suggestion to build a desalinization plant misses the point" PRO Nevada offers this assessment of his comments:

1] Jon is an idiot because he cannot contain is obvious dislike for Gov. Gibbons. Any hint that his columns are unbiased or fair dribbles away with his cheap comments "Hey, Governor, did you notice the state budget is underwater?" and "plagiarized Elko screed" and "of course, Gibbons knows water from the ground up."

2] Jon is an idiot because he calls what is "short-sighted" visionary and what is visionary, short-sighted. To say that spending ever increasing Yucca-like billions on a thousand mile pipeline through Nevada's desert to water the grounds at Caesar's Palace is visionary and "essential" and the Governor's suggestion that we spend the billions on creating a NEW SOURCE for water is short sighted and "nutty" is to show Jon's idiotic tendencies.

3] Jon is an idiot because he doesn't understand how ALL water is related. He says Gibbons misses the point because desalinating in AZ, CA and Mexico won't help the overuse of the Colorado River. What is he thinking? I guess he was just clouded by his dislike of the Governor because if CA takes one gallon out of the Pacific ocean that means it will take one less gallon out of the Colorado. If Mexico can convert salt water into fresh water for it's crops and people they will not need as much of the Colorado. Maybe Jon is swayed by the polished, good-looking, alto-voiced Pat Mulroy in her calming commercials as she thanks Las Vegas for their conserving efforts and casually mentions raping the rural counties.

4] Jon is an idiot because he is all FOR the environmentalists as they attempt to stop Yucca but he calls them "Environmental Screechers" when they attempt to stop this foolish pipeline.

The parallels are obvious between Yucca and the Pipeline: we will spend increasing billions on something that will probably never happen and is environmentally suspect instead of spending billions on new technologies to take care of the REAL problems. Instead of the whole US trying to screw Nevada, Las Vegas and Jon Ralston are trying to screw the rural counties.

Jon Ralston is obvious PRO Las Vegas and not PRO Nevada.

Friday, February 22, 2008

The Wells Earthquake


We at PRONevada would like to send out our thoughts and prayers to the people of the rural Nevada town of Wells. We thank God there was no death and only "stuff" that was damaged but we also know how scary earthquakes can be especially in a area that doesn't expect it.
KTVN TV
KOLO TV
KRNV TV video
KLAS TV slide show
“Quake rock Wells: Magnitude 6.0 temblor causes extensive damage”
Elko Daily Free Press“Wells High School Unsafe”
Elko Daily Free Press“County declares state of emergency”
Elko Daily Free Press“Community briefing tonight”
Elko Daily Free Press“Red Cross opening Wells shelter”
Reno Gazette Journal“No damage to power lines from Nevada Earthquate”
[Reuters]“6.3 temblor strikes Wells”

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Now were Talking Common Sense

The Las Vegas Sun actually gave Governor Gibbons a positive news story. I think this is the first time since - well I don't remember it ever happening. In "Gibbons takes another whack at pipeline plan" the Sun restrains itself from making any negative comments and sticks to just conflicting comments between Gibbons and one of his advisors. Read all of Gibbons comments in the Lahontian Valley News

But lets talk about the real meat behind the story. Doesn't this seem like common sense? Instead of spending BILLIONS of dollars buiding a pipeline to pump rural Nevada dry for a very thirsty Las Vegas lets spend BILLIONS and develope a NEW SOURCE for water instead. I mean really? Lets turn our unlimited salt water, covering 70% of the earth's surface into drinkable water instead of taking the limited ranchers and farmers water from rural Nevada. Now I understand that the Las Vegas Water Authority has bought up millions of acres in rural Nevada for the water rights and I don't begrudge the ranchers and farmers from selling to make a good profit but stopping this now is the BEST IDEA.

In fact why isn't EVERY POLITICIAN scrambling to support this? Harry Reid is so set against coal plants in rural Nevada for environmental reasons why would he not support Gibbons in stopping this pipeline for environmental reasons. Granted salt water is not as abundant and renewable as the sun, wind, and geothermal is but it is damn close. Before this gets any further PRONevada calls on our local and state politicians to become PRO Nevada and stop the pipeline before it goes any further!

PRONevada.org

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Access to BLM Land for Alternative Energy!

Now that is a great idea! The LVRJ tells us that Sen. Reid is proposing opening up Federal BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land for use in alternative energy.

If ANY OF YOU have tried to get the BLM to release or "dispose of" land (I have) you know that it is like rolling over an elephant by yourself. It literally takes an act of congress to get it done. While Clark County has done some innovative (and lucrative) coordination between the BLM, environmental groups, and businesses all the rural counties have not. So you are stuck with some arbitrary 10 year plan in our rural counties for disposing of land. All of us know how well 10 year plans work out. Anything outside of that planned disposal takes an Act of Congress.

PRONevada is PRO ANYTHING that will free up the 67% of Nevada held by the BLM, ESPECIALLY for use in alternative energy.

(But let's not forget our farmers and ranchers who can also turn that BLM desert into food on your table)

PRONevada.org

Monday, February 18, 2008

Nevada HAS TO LEAD!

It is time for Nevada to step up. The LVRJ again this past Sunday touted the potential in Nevada for being the leader in alternative energy. Again and again editorials and bloggers have touted the POTENTIAL in Nevada. They have told us over and over again how we SHOULD or COULD be leading in this.

Nevada is in a unique position right now. Sure we hear the bellyaching of our Schools with the decreasing of their INCREASE in funds this year but there is a lot of money out there for alternative energy solutions. We have state representatives like Ed Goedhart of District 36 (a Republican) and we have state senators like Dina Titus (a Democrat) who are working to make changes along with a handful of others but they need help.

Here are a few ideas:
1] Take away the "incentives" of companies to be LEED certified and give the money to our Public Schools to be used ONLY FOR SOLAR POWER on their facilities - the gift that keeps on giving. LEED certification is still too nebulous and still too easy for a smart businessman to get around. There is enough incentive in businesses to go green without the state sponsoring it.
2] Newspapers, who constantly tout alternative energy, sponsor Alternative Energy Awards and grants. They can raise awareness and promote experimentation by offering $1 million in prizes for companies and/or individuals in categories like: Most innovative use of alternative energy; Most dramatic decrease in traditional power usage; Gadget with most potential; Most innovative new idea; or WHATEVER.
3] How about making all the neighborhood associations get involved! Recycling projects, collection locations and how about each neighborhood association haveing to generate 10% of their own power! There is enough garbage and enough sun and wind to power the neighborhood if they want to coordinate it.

I am sure you have ideas too, so respond to this blog and I will make sure they get posted and sent to people who can do something about it. This isn't a political issue, it is a practical issue. Can you imagine Nevada being the first state in the Union that is TOTALLY ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SELF SUFFICIENT! Can you imagine? I can!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Coal Plants in Rural Nevada

I have to say that PRO Nevada is torn over the building of new Coal Plants in Rural Nevada. On the one hand bringing 800 temporary jobs and 110 permanant ones and the revenue generated by all those construction guys renting, buying food, and paying for there stay in rural Nevada is a GOOD THING. On the other hand PRO Nevada has been a staunch supporter of alternative energy in rural Nevada. We are so rich in natural resources for producing energy. Resources like the SUN, the WIND, and even geothermal are available in Rural Nevada. The price of turning these resources into energy is coming down all the time and with a boost from the feds and state it will get over the top. Back to the first "hand" PRO Nevada supports alternative energy because so much of our current energy needs are supplied by people who want to kill us and we have a hard time supporting terrorists by buying their oil. But coal is a "home grown" product and in abundant supply here in the states. So coal plants will support Americans and American jobs. Also, the energy is still cheaper and cheaper energy bills are good for rural Nevada.

I said all that to say this: PRONevada doesn't seem to have a horse in the race for the coal plants in Nevada. But we welcome any comments to help pursuade.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Amargosa and Solar Power

More news in the Pahrump Valley Times this past weekend telling us that Ausra is making some moves to Amargosa Valley for a new SOLAR power plant. We at PRONevada would GREATLY ENCOURAGE Nye County to do all they can to get this plant.

Ausra is building a manufacturing plant in Las Vegas and is pulling the price of Solar Power from 20 cents and kwh (kilowatt hour) down to 11 cents. Gas and coal is at 5-6 cents and rising while solar is coming down. That still may not sound good to some of you to have Solar twice the price of gas and coal but consider a few things: 1] One is going down, the other is going up and soon (within a few years) they will switch places. 2] Paying 6 cents for gas is putting 6 cents into the pockets of people OUTSIDE Nevada, sometimes OUTSIDE the US and even INSIDE the borders of countries that HATE US! 3] Clean, absolutely clean, ZERO EMMISIONS of any kind! 4] A completely RENEWABLE resource, if there is one thing Amargosa has it is SUN and lots of it, it will be there tomorrow, you don't have to dig for it, it just shows up for work EVERY MORNING! (or at least 97% of the time)

So come on Nye County, come on State powers! Get this plant in here! Get them the tax breaks they need, cut out the red tape they are bound with. Give Valley Electric and even Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific power a kick in the but to build the transmission lines and credits they should be giving. Let's do this! It would definately be PRONevada!