Nevada lawmakers approve renewable energy authority - Business

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Jun. 26, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CORRECTION -- 06/27/09 -- A story in Friday’s Las Vegas Review-Journal about the state’s new energy commissioner job contained an error. The Legislature does not have the power to confirm the appointment, which will be made by the governor.

Nevada lawmakers approve renewable energy authority

By BRENDAN RILEY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Renewable Energy

CARSON CITY -- Nevada lawmakers voted Thursday to endorse a new state renewable energy agency after asking numerous questions about the agency's staffing and initial $250,000-a-year funding.

The lawmakers' Interim Finance Committee supported the new Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Authority, along with a $117,030-a-year salary for a commissioner and a $56,265-a-year salary for an executive assistant. The initial source of funds for the authority will come from a small tax collected by the state Public Utilities Commission.

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The commissioner's job is to suggest ways to cut energy use and to attract wind, solar and geothermal projects to Nevada by offering tax breaks, technological data and financing options to renewable energy companies.

The commissioner will share responsibility for alternative energy development with state Energy Director Hatice Gecol.

The authority amounts to "a new bureaucracy" that's being set up without any assurances that funding for its operating costs would be available beyond the two-year budget cycle that starts July 1, said Assemblyman Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City.

A bill approved this year by the Legislature also allows the authority to contract for legal counsel, Assemblyman Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, said, adding, "Where's that money coming from?"

State Budget Director Andrew Clinger said there's no request at this point for legal counsel funding. He added that in the short term the funding for the authority will come from the state PUC. More details would be provided once the new commissioner is on the job, he said.

Legislators also questioned Gecol about the more than $34 million in stimulus funds available for Nevada energy programs. Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said she was concerned about the lack of detail on how the federal funds, which Gecol controls, will be spent on energy-related projects.

"We've known about this since March and here we are in June and it's not tight enough," Buckley said of the plan for spending the funds.

Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Reno, said she's concerned about timely responses to the questions since the lawmakers' Interim Finance Committee, which provides funding to agencies between Nevada's regular legislative sessions, isn't scheduled to meet again until September.

Clinger said he would work with the lawmakers' staffers and if necessary seek a special IFC meeting to deliver information before September. Gecol said she has about 10 percent of the federal money and hopes for more in a couple of weeks.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Joe Bama wrote on June 26, 2009 12:51 PM: Manpower has already found a qualified applicant for this post,so we are all set! dismayed wrote on June 26, 2009 10:15 AM: In answer to ED, the State Energy Director can't do the job because she doesn't know what she is doing. In question to ED,,,what job? The tasks outlined are already being done by the PUCN. The whole question of being able to find a qualified person to fill the position is a moot point since I am positive that this position was created as a favor to someone our oh so respectable Governer knows. Too_much_government wrote on June 26, 2009 10:13 AM: The lawmakers' Interim Finance Committee supported the new Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Authority, along with a $117,030-a-year salary for a commissioner and a $56,265-a-year salary for an executive assistant. First of all, I don't understand how law(sausage)makers can vote on ANYTHING at this time. We're sine die and Gibbons hasn't called a special session. Secondly, this new bureaucracy is completely unnecessary. If there is a market for renewable energy, some bright fellow will figure out how to make an honest buck on it. I see the crooked politicians have already staked their claim. Housing wrote on June 26, 2009 07:05 AM: Nevada may have lead the nation in housing for the past twenty years but, are decades behind in solar and common sense building design. Natural light, passive and active solar systems are CHEAP , basically free and the building departments, builders and architects are without a clue!!! John wrote on June 26, 2009 06:51 AM: I was just about to start writing but then read longgun45's comments. All I can say is DITTO. longun45 wrote on June 26, 2009 06:25 AM: OH BOY!!!! Another useless state agency for Democrat patronage. And they provided for Legal counsel, wouldn't that be the Attorney General? Who says Democrats don't like to tax the poor. These expected projects are coming from where? Paid for by Whom? The taxpayers? The Democrats like to pay twice for things, so they should pay twice the taxes. The Unions will oppose any project if non union labor is used and they will never get off the ground. This will not bring any new jobs to Nevada. Tax breaks amount to a government subsidy we cannot afford in the recession or any other time. Can you say corporate welfare. And this coming from the Democrats. Ed wrote on June 26, 2009 05:34 AM: Why can't the State Energy director handle this job? Another example of wasting our money.