Hard Sell

From environmentalists to builders, many say statewide home energy audits could soothe our ailing housing market -- so why are Nevada realtors fighting the new standards?

Las Vegas City Life - 3.4.10
by JASON WHITED

With the Las Vegas real estate market in the toilet, it seems many Nevadans are looking for anything to stop the long, precipitous slide.

For the past several years, an unlikely alliance of builders, environmentalists and state lawmakers has developed what they've called a winning solution: required energy audits on the sale of each new home in the state. By the time new state requirements governing these inspections take effect next January, experts said, the audit requirements -- initially passed by the Legislature in 2007 and updated by state lawmakers in 2009 -- could help establish entirely new selling points for the tens of thousands of homes still standing empty. Yet, as these interest groups, policy experts and businessmen work feverishly with state energy officials to flesh out energy audit standards in advance of the 2011 deadline, many among this ad hoc, green consortium complain that local realtors are pushing back hard, slowing the possible transformation of Las Vegas from an anemic residential market into a robust, energy-efficient money maker.

"Local governments support this, builders support this, we support this, even the governor's energy office is trying to make this happen. The only real opposition to this is coming from the realtors," said Scot Rutledge, executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, a group that's worked closely with builders and government officials on the new energy audit standards.

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Would closing state parks to save money do more harm than good?

The Nevada Legislature is thinking of closing state parks as it considers how to patch an estimated $900 million budget gap, a move that would save a few million dollars while killing the economies of rural towns and stunting tourism efforts across the state, opponents of the idea say. Gov. Jim Gibbons has suggested a 10 percent budget reduction for a number of agencies, including the State Parks Division.

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Inside Nevada Politics

The Democratic-leaning Nevada Conservation League endorsed Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid for governor today.

So far, Reid is the only Democrat in the governor's race. Three Republicans are competing in a primary.

The league, which recently lambasted Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons' record on its issues, said Reid has a proven record on conservation issues during his time on the commission. The league was also impressed with Reid's campaign platform on renewable energy.

Find the blog here.

Nevada Conservation League Endorses Rory Reid for Governor

Experience with environmental issues, plans for green industry make Rory the ideal choice for Nevada’s top office.

“Rory Reid has a proven record of advocacy for conservation and the environment, and detailed plans to put Nevada at the forefront of the green industries of the future,” said Scot Rutledge, executive director.  “Our next governor needs to be a leader in renewable energy development, and in protecting our natural resources.  Rory has both the experience and the vision to move our state forward.”

Read the press release here.

Conservation League critical of Gibbons, gives grade of ‘F’

By David McGrath Schwartz
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 | 11:45 a.m.

The Nevada Conservation League gave Gov. Jim Gibbons a grade of "F" on his conservation record, criticizing him for appointments to the Wildlife Commission, a "failure to lead" on environmental issues and not working more with hunting and conservation groups.

Read more: Conservation League critical of Gibbons, gives grade of ‘F’

Gibbons Fails on the Environment

Nevada Conservation League gives Gibbons an F

RGJ: Inside Nevada Politics 2/2/2010

The Nevada Conservation League will be releasing its annual gubernatorial scorecard tomorrow assessing Gov. Jim Gibbons' record on issues important to the group during the 2009 Legislature.

Read more: Gibbons Fails on the Environment

Innovation in solar technology helps conserve water, create jobs

Innovation in solar technology helps conserve water, create jobs

Danny Thompson and Scot Rutledge
Las Vegas Sun - Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009

It seems cruelly ironic that tapping into Southern Nevada’s vast solar energy potential could slowly drain our desert. Traditional solar thermal power plants that use wet cooled technology require millions of gallons of water over time in the process of converting solar rays into clean, renewable power for our community.

Read more: Innovation in solar technology helps conserve water, create jobs

Small crowd attends Pahrump solar hearing

Small crowd attends Pahrump solar hearing

By MARK WAITE - Pahrump Valley Times

The NIMBY crowd wasn't in attendance at the public hearing in Pahrump on the Solar Millenium project in Amargosa Valley 35 miles away.

Instead, the handful of people who showed up for the Friday night hearing at the Pahrump Community Library meeting room focused more on generalities: A couple skeptics expressed fears about water or the night sky, proponents talked about jobs and the need for renewable energy. There was no sentiment of Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) as was current at Amargosa Valley three days before.

Read more: Small crowd attends Pahrump solar hearing