PRO Nevada

T Boone Pickenspeak:

2008-08-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

The second main speaker at the Clean Energy Summit was T Boone Pickens who has been putting all those TV ads together, spending HIS OWN MONEY on it to educate the American Public on how we are transferring our wealth to the Middle East for their oil. He has a plan and he has already started investing the money to make the plan work.

In contrast to Clinton his down-home-folksy speaking style suited him and his use of a marker board only enhanced his simple approach to solving our "energy crisis". Even when he would stumble over his words, like Clinton did, he would recover with a simple ease that endeared himself to the people of the opposite party he was speaking to. It was hard NOT to like him.

As to his message. His main argument is that we are transferring $700 billion every year for oil and we can cut that by 38% in the next 5 years. The way to do this is to change all our vehicles from oil based gasoline to natural gas. ALL of our natural gas is produced in the US and it is cleaner and more efficient than gasoline. He says to start with the truck fleets in the nation which upgrade their semi's, on average, every 2 1/2 years, so by 5 years all semi's on the road should be natural gas. All new cars should start soon after. This would bridge the gap between battery powered vehicles which are, realistically, 10 years away from mass appeal. It is a simple conversion to make engines that run on gas to ones that run on natural gas. This is the biggest step. He called on Senator Reid for the tax incentives to make it happen but he believes the market will pay for the rest.

The rest of the oil that is used for power generation (after the 38% used for vehicles) will be locally produced and not Middle East produced but also will be reduced with wind and solar every year to make up for taking Natural Gas out of the electricity generating process.

What impressed me, contrary to Clinton, was that he came carrying a check. He has spent millions already on this project and is intending to spend hundreds of millions if that is what it takes. Money spoke pretty loudly. I wish he was a Nevada Oil Man and not a Texas Oil Man.

Clintonspeak:

2008-08-20T09:17:00.001-07:00

So I attended the Clean Energy Summit put on by Harry Reid and UNLV this week. The keynote speaker on Monday night was former President Bill Clinton. I had never heard Clinton speak before (other than on TV when prez and such) and I was definitely not impressed.

Forget the message for a minute but the former President was a mess as a speaker. I have been a Toastmaster for almost 10 years now and speak 3-4 times a week at various groups so I have a little speaking experience. Clinton's speech was a bumbling mess. He tried to speak from some notes he "wrote in the plane on the way here" and it came across like it was a terrible flight. He repeatedly lost his place and referred to point 7 as point 2 and point 8 as his second point and repeated himself or joked until he found his place again. It was to the point that I was uncomfortable for him. I expected a lot more from a guy who gets millions each year just to speak to them.

As to the content of his speech. He showed a depth of knowledge on Alternative Energy that I appreciated. A couple of things like "de-coupling" energy companies that I had not heard of before and his closing on making Nevada a kind of pilot program for total energy independence made me applaud. Clinton did well when he told stories and he could have told a lot more of them. He made great points but I wish his presentation was a lot more professional. With the VAST majority of those attending having Clinton as their hero he got a standing ovation when he was done and the conference went on.

I have said this before and I say it again. Words are great but time slips by as we talk. The time has come to DO something. I would have loved Clinton to put some of his or his foundation's (which he touted over and over again) money into Nevada to make this the pilot program move. We have been SAYING these kind of things since before he was president and still we talk. If he'd have come with a check my ears would have perked up and people from both sides would have cheered.

The Perks of Big City Government Working in Nevada

2008-08-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Check out E!! The True Conservative Story's article about the Perks of Public Office.

You will find Clark County Government workers are paid up to three times MORE than rural County employees!

Who is standing up for Rural Nevada?

Now THAT is a good question!

2008-08-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

Props to Phoebe Sweet of the LVS for her questions to the Las Vegas Valley Water Authority in their plans to pump water from Rural Nevada to Vegas. Read the article here.

Where are the Environmentalists?

2008-07-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

State Water Engineer Tracy Taylor agreed to allow the Las Vegas Valley Water Authority to pump 6 BILLION gallons of water a year from rural Nevada to quench an overheated Las Vegas. Did you hear that? SIX BILLION GALLONS A YEAR from our farmers and ranchers AND pristine Nevada desert! LVRJ

Where are the environmentalist protesters? Where are the discussions on fish, turtles, rabbits and plants that will be destroyed with this water drainage. I don't understand how all the all this can happen without hundreds of lawsuits filed by US Fish and Wildlife, Sierra Club, Forestry Services and even Indian Reservations! This doesn't just effect the farmers and ranchers.

Every time a farmer wants to move a water right permit from one field down the road a mile to another field HE OWNS he get hit with 100 lawsuits from these groups. Now LVVWA is moving billions, and piping it a couple HUNDRED MILES there is not a peep from US Fish and Wildlife. Can someone answer where these people are on this?

BLM Pushes Solar Power back FIVE YEARS!

2008-06-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

We've been hearing about it now for a few weeks but the Fed's, the BLM: Bureau of Lame Management, er, sorry, the Bureau of LAND Management has decided to put a moratorium on disposing of or leasing land for Solar projects. They complain that they have gotten "so many" applications in the last few years that they need to do an environmental impact study to see if the new shade offered to the desert turtles will hurt them or not. Read the PVT article.

They want to push any approvals back for 22 months! That is almost TWO YEARS! How long does it take to find out whether a turtle likes the shade of a solar panel or not? Add that two years to the current THREE YEAR process to get the proper permits and we are still at least FIVE YEARS away from any new Solar Power in rural Nevada. That is not even counting the time it take to build the solar or wind plants.

I put this solidly in Senate MAJORITY Leader Harry Reid's lap. He is the freekin' head of the US Senate with a majority in Congress and what have we seen for all his LIP SERVICE to renewables in Nevada. Back when new coal plants were being proposed and he came out saying "over my dead body" he should have said "No to coal but I will get the BLM to release 50,000 acres for solar and wind projects"

I am TIRED of the lip service to renewables by ALL OUR POLITICIANS. It seems like this Ed Goedhart from Nye County is the ONLY ONE who gets it!

What the F***?!?!

2008-06-05T09:06:00.001-07:00

Okay I am getting a little tired of Nevada bloggers. I search the blog sphere for insight into the temperature of Nevada thought and action. But most of what I seem to find are rants against everything Jim Gibbons and everything George Bush. I have not read calm, concise, and concrete blogs that will state a point of view without relying on name calling and using bad language. It is as if because they DARE to use bad language on a blog they should be legitimate.

There is a true story out of the formerly (maybe soon again) Communist Russia where a group of children who were exposed to ranting and raving about how bad democracy was and how screwed up Christianity was and that anyone would be "out of their mind" to believe in those corrupt Capitalist systems. They were ranted about through grade school, middle school, and high school, but when they got to college they started thinking, "With all this ranting and raving we have been hearing all these years our government must be afraid of something?" So they checked it out, REALLY checked it out away from all the propaganda and became the leaders in the NEW Russian revolution to rid itself of Communism.

Why do I tell you this story? Because the more ranting and raving I see on the Nevada blogs the more fear I see of the OPPOSITE view. A calm, realistic exchange of ideas shows you have confidence in your opinion where a rant shows you are scared of the opposite opinion and need to rely on volume and not on truth.

Think about it. Calm, disciplined and healthy debate over substantial issues is PRO Nevada!

Water to the FRONT

2008-06-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

In both the LVS and LVRJ papers you will find articles on water usage in Las Vegas and the pipeline proposal.

Vegas seems to think this is a done deal. Vegas seems to think that all it will take is a little more negotiation and water will come GUSHING from White Pine and Lincoln Counties to serve Las Vegas' growth. All that SEEMS to be left is a small deal with Utah.

PRO Nevada appreciates the farmers and ranchers who cashed in on the thirst of Vegas by selling their acre-feet of water, but PRO Nevada stands against pumping the water to Vegas for billions of dollars. That's right BILLIONS of dollars. As we said in a previous post Las Vegas can build a desalinization plant in Mexico for $250 million, with no annoying California environmentalist whackos stopping it. Why use up water that farmers, ranchers and miners already use in mid Nevada when you can trade desal' plants for water out of the Colorado? It is like driving 50 miles to see a movie that is playing in your back yard FOR LESS MONEY! Why is the Vegas Water Authority even messing with northern water? It is more expensive, it is expendable as opposed to the ocean of water in Mexico, and it is more environmentally sound.

Kudos to the ranchers and farmers who cashed in on LVVWA's stupidity but, seriously Vegas, get your head out of your ass.

EVERYBODY'S Cover Story

2008-05-29T08:06:00.001-07:00

Okay, here's the thing ...

When did we get to the point where politics was about slinging as much mud as possible on each candidate? When did we get to the point where the issues took a back seat to digging up and explaining all the mud in your life?

Don't get me wrong, I believe that your ethics need to be consistent, you cannot screw people here and then NOT screw them there. That is an imposibility even in our dichotic world.

BUT there is a lot of room for HUMANS who make mistakes in the political arena. There has to be or only Jesus Christ could run for office. There has to be room for an honest politician to say, "You know what, you are right, I screwed up, I shouldn't have done that, but I learned from it, I am now a better person than I was then. NOW lets talk about our fixing our schools, or economic issues, or even Yucca Mountain."

I pray there is still room for our great state to forgive and forget. But in the age of internet searches we will always find stupid things our politicians say and do and a grainy video to prove it. I pray there is still room to discuss REAL issues instead of just the latest dirt.

Everybody's cover story is Gibbons possible affair or Bush's press secretary's new book. What just happened to the issues?

Let's get over it, get on with it, get done with it, and GET GOING AGAIN!

Politics and more Politics

2008-05-28T07:23:00.001-07:00

How many of you out there REALLY think you can make a difference in American Politics? Seriously? I would really like to see a politician who honestly says what he/she is thinking and believes in. All I hear is politicians telling me what they think I want to hear:

"I don't support Yucca" in Nevada; "I support Yucca" in New York.
"I'll lower gas prices"
"I'll make the value of your home come back!"
"I'll make your schools better!"
"I'll vote out the dirty bastards!"
"I support your values!"
"I focus on what's important to YOU!"
"I'm the PRO Nevada candidate!"

Well, how refreshing would this be:

"I'm not going to promise a damn thing to you other then that I will tell you the truth whether you want to hear it or not!"
"I'm not going to take a more than $100 from any one person and not a damn cent from businesses, unions, PACs, or other politicians!"

Now THAT would be PRO Nevada!

Nevada Gold Mining!

2008-05-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Nevada Miners who set a record in gold production this year. While the actual ounces was a few less than last year, with the gold prices being so high they had record profits. (PVT) This is good for employment in Nevada. This is good for the security and stability as well as the wages of Nevada workers. And this is good for tax revenue for the state.

Mining in Nevada is definitely PRO Nevada!

Ethanol and/or Food

2008-05-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

The LVRJ had a major editorial on Ethanol calling it"magical beans" and a scam. As the price of food goes up and the price of grain goes up I find I am torn.

My brother is an Indiana farmer and is now enjoying, for the first time in my 48 years of memory, a price for corn that he can actually make a living off of. $2 per bushel corn was the standard for almost 50 years, imagine that, imagine YOUR wages staying the same as they were in 1958! Instead of complaining and fighting (okay there has always been a little complaining and subsidies) the American farmer buckled down and became more and more efficient, and more efficient. They produced more and more grain off the same few acres. NOW suddenly we have corn at $6 per bushel because of the dream of ethanol fueling the US economy. Hooray for the farmer!

But on the other hand food is more expensive because corn also feeds animals that feed us both milk and meat. It still takes a lot of energy and water to produce ethanol and while I believe we will get better at it, there might be a better way to spend our resources. Like on Wind, Sun, and Geothermal.

PRONevada covers and area that doesn't include many corn growers, although wheat has gone up in price too. But PRONevada has to push alternative energy in Nevada and we would like to see the cost of food go down for many reasons while producing renewable energy in other ways.

Let's get back to business!

2008-05-07T07:36:00.001-07:00

I read a LOT of the Nevada blogs. Some are good and some are not so good. I read the left wing blogs and the right wing ones. I enjoy reading both sides take on the same issue and I get pretty good at finding out your particular bent from simple looking at the adjectives you use in your writing. If you describe our Governor as "the idiot Jim Gibbons" or "the beleaguered Jim Gibbons" you get a good idea of the bent of the writer.

Well I am simply tired of the blogs on Jim Gibbons being about his divorce. For a week now that is all the local blogs have been about and it is time to get back to business and let the tabloids deal with the divorce if they feel it necessary. Let's talk about budget issues. Let's talk about Yucca issues. Let's talk about water issues. Let's talk about who's running for what and what their ideas are. Let's get back to business!

Nye County Direction

2008-04-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Nye County has approved "A $492,000 renewable energy study (that) will examine planning issues associated with various wind and solar projects proposed around Nye County"

This study will look at the "feasibility" of Wind Power, Biomass Power from landfills, Solar Power and infrastructure issues in Nye County. You can read about this here in the Pahrump Valley Times.

Now PRONevada is ALL FOR alternative energy in rural Nevada and we believe that there is no reason why Nevada can not be energy POSITIVE by the end of the next decade but this study has the smell of a stall tactic. I understand that Nye County has to go through proper channels and has to make sure they don't step on any toes but LET'S GET MOVING!

EVERYBODY KNOWS alternative energy is the right thing to do so instead of doing another feasibility study, let's knock down some of the barriers! Read the March 14 blog below and let's get moving instead of talking about it and studying it for another year!

PRONevada praises Nye County for their steps, even though they are baby steps, at least they are in the right direction.

Brothels safer than Health Clinics

2008-03-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

I truly am sorry and this is not normally a cause PRO Nevada supports but ... brothels are ONLY IN rural Nevada, so ...

I just really got a kick out of this letter to the Editors of the LVRJ:

Mar. 26, 2008 Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
LETTERS: Brothels safer than health clinics
To the editor:

Last week the ABC News show "20/20" addressed the topic of prostitution in America, specifically in Nevada. Diane Sawyer of "20/20" observed that the health department stated that in more than 30 years, it has not had one case of HIV among the women working in the more than 30 legal brothels in Nevada. Ms. Sawyer also stated that each of the women is tested every week for sexually transmitted diseases, and for HIV every month.

Compare the track record of the legal brothels in Nevada, when it comes to disease transmitted, to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, where at least six patients were infected with hepatitis C. Who would have thought that a patron of a legal brothel would be at less risk of catching a disease than a patient at a medical clinic? Both places operate under a profit motive, yet it appears from news reports that one engaged in practices that put its clients/patients health, and very lives, at risk in order to maximize its profits.

It is also interesting to note that the state appears to do a thorough job of ensuring the clients of brothels and the women employed there are protected from being infected, yet for whatever reason can't seem to do the same thorough job when it comes to health care clinics.

There is no justifiable reason for the state health department not doing their job, despite all the excuses we have been hearing about a lack of funding and staff, lack of support from the governor for staffing positions, inability to hire staff, etc. This issue of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Nevada is far too important to ever be ignored or rationalized away. If you don't believe that, just consider the plight of the 40,000-plus people now living in a medical purgatory as they await the outcome of their medical tests -- or their future as they struggle with a deadly disease.

And finally, like thousands or hundreds of thousands of other citizens, I keep watching the local evening news, waiting to see some health care providers in Las Vegas do the "perp walk" in handcuffs.

Tom Lynch
NORTH LAS VEGAS

All PRO Nevada can say is "Amen"

The SUN is softening!

2008-03-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Las Vegas SUN has softened a bit. Their editorial today shows a crack in the door of their unwavering and staunch support of the LVVWA (Las Vegas Valley Water Authority) plan to build a pipeline from Northern Nevada to serve a thirsty Las Vegas and drain the rest.

They still aren't FOR the desalinization plant but the say it could be a "long term solution" which is more than they have ever giving the project before. So we at PRO Nevada give a cheer for the SUN. Baby steps, baby steps, maybe next week or next month they we START to consider the damage that will be done to the Northern Counties by this mult-billion-dollar scam. But baby steps are good.

Couple of things for them to consider:

Here's a quote "But desalination is certainly not a short-term option, given the expense of building and operating a plant, not to mention the environmental issues associated with desalination." TELL ME, what do you consider short term and long term? Years? Decades? Desal' plants are in operation NOW and the technology is there, it is as simple as building a factory. The pipeline is no less than 5 years away IF it happens, probably more like 10 years away once they cut through the permits and environmental impact studies. So which is short term and which is long term?

Here's another quote: "The process requires a tremendous amount of money, and environmentalists note that the demand for more electricity means more power plants, which come with their own set of costs and environmental issues." NOT near as much money as this crazy pipeline, in fact we could build EIGHT desal' plants for the price of this pipeline. (See previous post) It would demand electricity and that is the only REAL issue the SUN is addressing.

Next quote: "Trying to build a plant in California would be a difficult — and expensive — task." That is definitely right as rain. BUT why build in California? Mexico is just as happy, if not happier, to have American dollars spent on a number of desal' plants, give more Mexicans good jobs AND as I stated in the previous post, the "brine" is a commodity that can be sold, NOT dumped back into the ocean. (even if that drop in a VERY LARGE bucket would make any difference)

So PRO Nevada is proud of the SUN for taking these baby steps. We hope they will learn to walk on their own soon.

Desalinization Desmalinization

2008-03-21T09:19:00.001-07:00

The Las Vegas Sun took time out of its busy schedule of panning everything Republican and conservative to pen an article on Desalinization, even giving it a title "Desalinization Gets a Serious Look"

Unfortunately they didn't give it that look. Clouded by the unassuming smoothness of Pat Mulroy at the Water Authority and by Californian environmental groups they gave desalinization as an option less than a paragraph in the article. The rest of the time they praised the pipeline, lamented the possibility of dead fish, and crooned about the impractical if not impossible.

They did end it on what I am sure they consider a positive note with a PRO Nevada quote from Launce Rake "“This is a country that put a man on the moon, a country with enormous intelligence and financial resources. We can do this if we have the political will.”

While I am sure Launce meant well and was probably misquoted or taken out of context like the Sun tends to do but desalinization is NOT the equivalent of a moon shot. A desal' plant is the equivalent of building a factory, happens all the time and everywhere. The issue continues to be the amount of POWER needed to make it worth the effort. Unlike the moon shot, the technology is there and waiting.

For a mere $250 million we (meaning Nevada) can build a plant in Mexico and get the credit towards drawing more water from Lake Mead. Okay, $250 million is not chump change but compare that to the LVVWA plan to spend $2 billion on a pipeline (which will probably grow to $4-5 billion by the time there are done) we could build EIGHT DESAL' PLANTS for that!

Many Desal' plants already have alternative energy sources using waves and wind to power the process. Environmental groups complain that the salt goes back into the ocean and kills fish due to its high concentration. 1st that is a literal drop in the bucket and 2nd that salt can be a commodity for some entrepreneurial desal' plant operator.

So check out the article but keep the pressure on Mulroy and her friends in the Sun to push the Desal' plants as a legitimate alternative.

Little boy, why do you hit yourself in the head with a hammer?

2008-03-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

I walked around the corner in our neighborhood and found a young boy hitting himself in the head with a hammer. "Little boy," I said, "why do you hit yourself in the head with a hammer?" He looked up with a smile on his face and said, "Because it feels so good when I stop."

The Pahrump Valley Times has another in a series of articles in ALL the local papers on the next attempt by the DOE to "revive" Yucca Mountain. They will send another bright scientist to head the project and then cut back the money and manpower ... again ... while getting now further in the process. More delays, more money down the drain (or hole). I makes you want to ask: "DOE, why do you keep hitting your head with a hammer?"

Well it is long past time to MAKE IT STOP!

It is time to spend the billions of dollars on recycling nuclear waste and not hiding it - "oooh, that feels so good!"

It is time to spend the billions of dollars on technology that WON'T PRODUCE the waste in the first place - "yessss, that feels so good!"

Let's get the DOE to STOP banging themselves with Yucca, I am sure they will thank us for it.

Here's the Thing

2008-03-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (March 13) I went to a meeting at the Beatty Community Center held by BEC Environmental. BEC has been contracted by Nye County to ... in essence ... clear the way for alternative energy projects in rural Nye County. I for one THANK them for the attempt. They got the right parties there: Reps from BLM, Electric Companies, Division of Water Resources, officials of Nye County and even a state Assemblyman. Along with them were 3-4 companies who are interested in projects in Nevada and were at various stages in the process. There were even a few individuals who were with investment interests

BUT it became clear VERY early that the people who REALLY needed to be there were not there and would not be at a meeting like this. This was a meeting of people who really want to change things and get alternative energy going in Nevada.

First, let me say the PRONevada position on Alternative Energy in Nevada. PRONevada believes that there is no REAL reason why Nevada cannot be energy self sufficient and even energy positive by 2020. In other words: we have the natural resources in rural Nevada to support the energy needs of the glitz of Las Vegas and Reno AND send some down the line to CA or other states at the same time.

Here is what it will take. Here is what was missing at the BEC meeting yesterday.
- Reid, Ensign, Berkley, Porter, and Heller because the fact is: it will take an ACT OF CONGRESS to get federal land "disposed" in rural Nevada. 97% of Nye County is owned by the feds.
- US Fish and Wildlife, US Forestry Service, Sierra Club, and any other Environmental Group that is waiting in the wings to protest on behalf of the Amargosa Turtle, Devil's Hole Pupfish, and the Las Vegas Cockroach. Our above political leaders should say, "Okay Environmental groups, we agree that it is important for you to protect these species so we will agree to protect 10 acres of Nevada wilderness for every 1 acre of Alternative Energy land use if you drop any and all protests on that one acre.
- PUC Executives, Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Executives, and even Valley Electric Executives. (Although Valley Electric did sent a low level engineer) THESE are the people who need to change the "culture" of the Power companies in Nevada. Change a culture that says "We're sticking to what we know and what we are good at and will, if forced, pay some lip service to Alternative Energy" There current mandate is to become 20% Alternative Energy by 2020 but right now they say they are "trying but there are not cost effective projects out there and we don't want to drive up the price to our consumer." I know for a FACT that they have stalled and rejected Alternative Energy Projects that would provide power to their grid for LESS THAN what they purchase it on the open market for. If you want more proof of their reluctance just talk to the executives of Solar One who took over SEVEN YEARS to get their project going and Nevada Power STILL says it is not working.

Here's the thing. BEC, you made a great attempt and the companies and individuals at the meeting will continue to fight the uphill fight but until we smash down these walls: BLM land disposal, Environmental protests, and Power Company gerrymandering; we will only get a trickle of Alternative Energy in Nevada and that is definitely NOT PRONevada.
-

The Local Toad

2008-03-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

I have just read a quote that completely summarized what PRO Nevada is all about. This comes from the Pahrump Valley Times and it is out of a story entitled "Beatty Group Opposes Amargosa Toad Listing"

It seems there is a local group of volunteers that have been working to preserve the natural habitats along the Amargosa River in Beatty and suddenly the feds have come in and declared the Amargosa Toad an "Endangered Species." Ryan Tweney is the chairman of the group of local volunteers and he is opposed to the listing. Now comes the great quote:

"Listing as an endangered species would make this harder, not easier. These things are best done locally and with the cooperation of everyone involved," said Tweney. "We don't want our work hampered by all of the bureaucratic obstacles that listing would bring." (PVT)

Let me say that again, with emphasis: "Listing will make (protecting the toad) HARDER!" And "(Protecting the Toad) is best done LOCALLY with COOPERATION" and "(Protecting the Toad is) HAMPERED by all of the BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES!"

This is what PRO Nevada is all about. WE in Rural Nevada should have the opportunities to do what needs to be done without the bureaucratic obstacles of outsiders. Sure there are people who will sometimes abuse the privilege of rural land ownership and predetermination but we at PRO Nevada believe that it is the rights of the rural landowners to work cooperatively together to preserve rivers, streams and toad AND to grow alfalfa, mine gold and silver, and raise herds at the same time. IT IS POSSIBLE to be good stewards of Nevada and put food on your table AND make a profit! That is PRO Nevada!

More on the Water Grab

2008-03-07T07:59:00.000-08:00

Jim Sanford has a good (long) article where he very clearly articulates many of the issues related to the need and use of water in Nevada. Give it a read.

Especially fun to read is Las Vegas Mayor Goodman who claims that CA farmer will let their cropland go fallow before Las Vegas drys up. Jim seems to be pushing a few proposals on reversing some rivers and building some canals that would send "unallocated" water into the arid West. I don't quite understand what he is proposing but I have started an email dialogue with him and will keep you informed as to whether this is PRO Nevada or not.

17 Alternatives to the Stealing of Rural Nevada Water

2008-03-04T08:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article by Mark Bird in the Salt Lake Tribune. A VERY PRO Nevada article written by a professor at the College of Southern Nevada.

17 Alternatives to the water pipeline proposed by Nevada

We could not agree MORE. Pat Mulroy and Jon Ralston are you listening?

No kidding? Seriously, this has got to STOP!

2008-02-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-26T07:55:00.000-08:00

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.

The Wells Earthquake

2008-02-22T08:10:00.000-08:00

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.

LVRJ Picture and Article

Reno Gazette Journal Article

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”

Ely Times

Now were Talking Common Sense

2008-02-21T08:12:00.000-08:00

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

Access to BLM Land for Alternative Energy!

2008-02-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

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

Nevada HAS TO LEAD!

2008-02-18T07:57:00.000-08:00

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!

Coal Plants in Rural Nevada

2008-02-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

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.

Amargosa and Solar Power

2008-02-04T08:05:00.000-08:00

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!

Dairy Farmer gives another GREAT reason to stop Yucca Mountain

2008-01-28T17:59:00.000-08:00

The LVRJ is doing a series called "On the Road" where they are taking US 95 from South to North and interviewing people in the towns along the way. FIRST we at PRO Nevada are grateful to the RJ for getting out of it's Vegas towers to get into rural Nevada. Their articles so far have stayed away from the quirky and gotten into the true rural Nevadans. SECOND I do believe they are showing their prejudices by who they pick and print but we understand a newspaper trying to stay a bit balanced even though rural Nevadans are pretty predominantly Republican and have counterweighted the predominantly Democratic cities of Vegas and Reno.
Tuesday's "On the Road" stopped at the Dairy farm within a few miles of Yucca Mountain. They interviewed the managers there and talked about Yucca. Read article here.

Can you imagine 45% of Nevada's milk coming from a location near Yucca Mountain? I really don't care if you can find 50 "experts" who will tell me that there is no way nuclear waste can get into the cows system and into our milk. Just the thought of it makes you think twice about purchasing milk. We might have to start getting our milk from China or something. It is kind of like having a drinking fountain right next to a urinal in the men's restroom. It just isn't right!

PRONevada.org

Buried on Page 20

2008-01-28T17:50:00.000-08:00

So why does this get buried in page 20 of the LVRJ?

With all the campaign rhetoric on Yucca Mountain you would think something like this would get more play. All we here is: "I will stop Yucca Mountain if elected president!" from every one of the officials but when the BETTER IDEA is put forward no one picks it up. We at PRONevada have been preaching about recycling nuclear waste instead of putting it in a concrete box an burying it under a beautiful Nevada mountain. We (the US taxpayer) have spent TENS OF BILLIONS of dollars on digging a hole under Yucca Mountain to store when that money could have better been spent on turning that nuclear waste into MORE ENERGY or at least rendering it non-radioactive.

So here is one of our representatives touting this plan and the LV Sun doesn't even pick it up and the LVRJ buries it next to the latest casino "double your point" advertisement. So here it is.

Jan. 18, 2008 Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal Porter looks at recycling nuclear fuel By TONY BATT STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- After inspecting a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in France, Rep. Jon Porter on Thursday said Nevada universities should be at the forefront in researching the reprocessing of nuclear fuel.
"According to the French, there is a shortage of folks in this field; and if we can become the premier state in researching the recycling of nuclear fuel and alternative energy sources, the pressure to open Yucca Mountain might be reduced," Porter said.
During reprocessing, uranium and plutonium are separated from other materials in spent nuclear fuel. That could significantly reduce the 77,000 tons of nuclear waste which would be stored at Yucca Mountain, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
But for more than 30 years, the United States has banned reprocessing of nuclear waste in an attempt to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons material.

"I think we have ignored a viable option for a number of years, and we need to accelerate efforts to look at reprocessing as a way to diversify our energy portfolio," said Porter, a three-term Republican.
Porter said the cost of completing a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain ranges from $80 billion to $90 billion compared to about $15 billion to build a nuclear reprocessing facility.
Porter and Republicans Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Phil English and Bill Shuster, both of Pennsylvania, toured the Areva nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in LaHague, France, last week on a nine-day taxpayer-funded trip.
The lawmakers also inspected energy facilities in Azerbaijan and Turkey, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline, which transports 1 million barrels a day and is projected to reach its capacity of moving 3 million barrels daily next year, according to Porter spokesman Matt Leffingwell.
Although not all of the oil goes to the United States, Porter described the BTC pipeline as a vital U.S. energy resource.
"The pipeline allows us to get oil and gas from that region without Russia and Iran who like to play games," he said.

Pay special attention to the fact that a recycling facility in France cost ONLY $15 billion. We have spent $80 billion on Yucca so far! Let's hear a presidential candidate do his homework on that instead of just reading press releases! I want to hear that dumping waste is NOT going to happen but I want to hear more WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT INSTEAD!
Sure, send us your waste. We'll power our state with it! Now that is PRONevada!

PRONevada.org
Filed in Yucca Mountain