Tension between ranchers and federal officials is dangerously high in Nevada
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske | January 14, 2016 Gerald “Jerry” Smith grew up in Nevada and went to work for the Bureau of Land Management right after college. As a local, he figured he was uniquely suited to work with the ranchers who have long resented the federal government’s role in land management here. It didn’t quite […]
Nevada’s New Solar Fees Have People Furious
By Katie Fehrenbacher |January 14, 2016 “Don’t tax the sun!” chants a crowd of hundreds of people gathered outside of a non-descript office building in Las Vegas on Wednesday. One person holds up a neon yellow sign that reads: “Sandoval stole my sunshine,” a reference to the state’s Governor. Another reads: “Solar lives matter.” The […]
Solar Customers Anxiously Await PUC Review Of New Rates
By Julia Ritchey |January 13, 2016 Last month the PUC gave NV Energy the OK to raise rates for existing solar customers. That includes Reno City Councilwoman Naomi Duerr, who invested $50,000 to install 36 solar panels on her home five years ago. “So you have $50,000 and you’re saying, ‘What can I do to […]
Utility regulators reject call to delay new rooftop-solar rates
By Sean Whaley |January 13, 2016 CARSON CITY — State utility regulators on Wednesday rejected a call to stay new rooftop-solar rates for net metering customers despite a daylong hearing that saw dozens of homeowners ask for a delay while the Dec. 22 decision is reconsidered. The Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to reject a delay in […]
Transmission line expansion called ‘game changer’ for clean energy in Nevada
By Sean Whaley |January 12, 2016 CARSON CITY — A transmission line that is expected to significantly increase Nevada’s ability to export clean energy will soon be under construction in Clark County. The One Nevada Transmission Line, which recently connected the state’s northern and southern power grids, is being expanded between the Harry Allen generating station […]
NV Energy, PUC price solar energy beyond residents’ reach
By Judy Treichel |January 12, 2016 During the 30 years I have fought efforts to bring the nation’s highly radioactive waste to Nevada’s Yucca Mountain, nuclear power supporters would ask, “So how do you think the lights will stay on without nuclear power?” My answer was, “In Nevada we have enough sunlight and solar power potential […]
Nevada’s Solar Power Fees Draw Ire of Silicon Valley Investors
By Chris Martin |January 12, 2016 A group of 18 venture capital investors are pressuring Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to reverse new fees on solar homes that state utility regulators made effective on Jan. 1. Keeping the charges in place will quickly curtail development of solar energy in the state and threaten future investment, the investors, […]
SolarCity cuts 550 Nevada jobs, blames new net metering rate
By Sean Whaley |January 6, 2016 CARSON CITY — The rooftop-solar company SolarCity said Wednesday it has been forced to eliminate more than 550 jobs in Nevada because of the new net metering rate approved by the state Public Utilities Commission on Dec. 22. Where possible, the company said it will relocate affected employees to “business-friendly” […]
GOP contenders tread carefully in Oregon standoff
By Kyle Cheney |January 4, 2016 Marco Rubio on Monday condemned the band of anti-government protesters occupying a wildlife refuge in Oregon as “lawless.” But he was quick to add a caveat: “And I agree that there is too much federal control over land, especially out in the western part of the United States,” the Florida senator […]
Not prosecuting lawbreakers leads to more crime
By Steve Sebelius |January 5, 2016 There are many reasons why the ongoing armed standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon happened. Chief among them: the federal government’s inaction since the last standoff with armed insurrectionists, near Bunkerville in 2014. That’s when notorious rancher Cliven Bundy issued a call for a “range war” after […]