The National Clean Energy Summit
Industry and Political Leaders Gather for Summit on Renewable Energy
Aug 16, 2008
The National Clean Energy Summit will be held August 18 and 19 at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Hosted by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and the University, the Summit will provide a gathering place for industry leaders such as T. Boone Pickens, scientists and policy experts. The Summit is open to the public.
Nevada is unique in that it is an excellent place for alternative energy. Solar, wind, geothermal and efficiency technologies are all possibilities for the rapidly-growing state to meet its energy needs. Those putting on the Summit are hopeful that Nevadans, and Americans, will embrace these solutions.
President William Jefferson Clinton will provide the opening remarks, slated for 5:00 PM on Monday, August 18. The morning keynote speech on Tuesday morning will be made by T. Boone Pickens, Chairman of BP Capital Management. Other participants include Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, and Nevada State Senator Dina Titus. They will participate in panels on topics such as “The Clean Energy Economy,” “Earning More by Using Less: Businesses, Efficiency and Renewable Energy,” and “Restoring American Leadership: Jobs, Growth, Communities and Trade.”
Nevada Residents Take on Clean Energy
Nevadans may take a particular interest in the Summit because of their involvement in a decade-long battle regarding Yucca Mountain, outside of Las Vegas. In 2002, President Bush designated the site as a Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear waste dump. This followed the 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act, that required the DOE to build a permanent underground nuclear-waste storage facility. The State of Nevada is opposed to it, saying that although proponents say the waste would be 1,000 feet beneath the mountain, there is the danger of ground water contamination. Also, the waste would have to be transported on Nevada roads and freeways. The site has yet to be developed, due to regulatory and legal hurdles.
Senator Reid and many Nevadans are opposed to the Yucca Mountain dump. In addition, he has prevented a “clean” coal facility from being built. Reid was behind the 2007 Energy Bill, H.R. 6. According to Reid’s website, “Nevada’s renewable resources could make it the nation’s epicenter for clean energy. There is no reason why our state should import millions of tons of coal to burn in outdated power plants that spew pollutants that destroy people’s health, deplete water resources, reduce visibility in our parks and communities, and perpetuate global warming. I will continue fighting proposals to waste Nevadans’ money on new coal plants with old inefficient combustion technologies. We need to finally free Nevada from its dependence on fossil fuel and electricity imports.”
Senator Harry Reid and National Energy Policy
Reid has introduced CREED, the Clean Renewable Energy and Economic Development Act, to finance and build new transmission lines for increased electricity generation, to areas that have renewable energy resources. The bill calls for the designation of renewable energy zones that can generate at least 1,000 megawatts of power from clean natural resources.
Reid is interested in making Nevada a renewable energy leader. He has met with Republican Senator John Ensign and other state leaders in agreeing to create a set of interactive maps of the state’s renewable energy resources. He has also met with Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne, regarding developing wind power projects in the state.
The National Clean Energy Summit opens Monday, August 18, at 5:00 PM. It concludes at 5:00 PM Tuesday, August 19. Walk-up registration may be available at Cox Pavilion. (at UNLV). For more information, contact info@cleanenergysummit.org.
