Nevada News Media Coverage of OCRWM

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:47:16 PST

This is an online resource for monitoring news in Nevada about OCRWM's activities and nuclear waste issues. This page contains items from the Las Vegas Review Journal, Pahrump Valley Times, Las Vegas Sun, Reno Gazette-Journal, and Nevada (Carson City) Appeal.

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POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Bill Clinton to host for Reid
Las Vegas Review-Journal
2009-04-20 08:20:34
Be good to the Clintons, and they will be good to you. That's the moral of the Rory Reid story. Reid, the Clark County Commission chairman, would-be Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2010 and son of the U.S. Senate majority leader, will have a second fundraiser hosted for him by former President Bill Clinton next month.

Yucca's demise to cost Nevada, Job losses will add to economic woes
Las Vegas Review-Journal
2009-04-20 00:00:00
The Obama administration and the state's congressional delegation have vowed to financially bleed the decades-old Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project, but doing so probably will cramp Southern Nevada's already hurting economy. That's the observation of University of Nevada, Las Vegas economics professor Keith Schwer. He directs The Center for Business and Economic Research at the university and co-authored a 2003 report on the project's economic impact in the state. "Obviously if you close all of that down, you're not going to have those direct dollars coming into Nevada," Schwer said Thursday. "That translates into an adverse economic impact."

Sen. Ensign speaks at Legislature
Las Vegas Sun -- Associated Press
2009-04-17 08:25:52
U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said Thursday that whoever surfaces as the top Republican challenger to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., will get his support and the race will be "a heavyweight battle." Ensign, talking with reporters following a speech to Nevada lawmakers, added, "You'll see a lot of money from special-interest groups coming here. It'll make the Reid-Ensign race (in 1998) look like there was no money spent in this state." Reid already has amassed several million dollars for his 2010 bid for a fifth term. He won his last election handily, but won his 1998 race against Ensign by only about 400 votes, out of more than 416,000 cast. Ensign also discussed his opposition to legislation authorizing federal stimulus funding, including about $1.5 billion for Nevada, telling lawmakers it was "riddled with problems" and the goal should have been to try to fix the housing crisis first. With the stimulus plan, "the long-term debt that is being added onto our children and grandchildren was not worth the price that was being paid," he said in his speech."Getting the economy going is the most important thing," he told reporters. "I just don't believe that the stimulus package got the economy going." Ensign also said spending levels proposed by President Obama can't be sustained, adding that the interest on the national debt will hit $800 billion a year 10 years from now."That is unsustainable. The United States cannot exist," Ensign said. "The economy of the United States cannot continue to survive, and I mean survive, with that level of debt." In his remarks to lawmakers, Ensign said bipartisan efforts have helped to block federal efforts to open a high-level nuclear waste dump at Nevada's Yucca Mountain."The era of Yucca Mountain is by most accounts over," he said, adding that he's looking forward to putting "the final nail in the coffin of Yucca Mountain." Ensign also said he's introducing a renewable energy permit act that should help to generate millions of dollars in revenue for state and local governments in Nevada, which is seeing a big surge in renewable energy development.

Russia Commits to More Nuclear Energy
NEI Nuclear Notes
2009-04-17 08:18:54
We have to admit that we know less than we might about Russian nuclear energy culture. We do know that it is a major player in the international marketplace and is making deals with any country that has even glanced in the direction of nuclear energy. We know the country has 31 units working currently, generating about 135 billion kWh per year or 16% of Russia’s electricity generation. And we know that most of the plants are clustered in the western quarter of the country – presumably, some of the electricity generated finds its way over to eastern Europe. See here for more. Regardless of what we don’t know, it really doesn’t surprise us much that Russia is reaffirming its commitment to new plants: "I believe it is possible to support the application of the Energy Ministry and Rosatom for the additional capitalization of the corporation to the tune of 50 billion rubles," Vladimir Putin said. Putin said nuclear power plants should generate 25%-30% of Russia's electricity and pledged more allocations to the corporation, despite the ongoing economic crisis. He said 26 nuclear reactors were to be built to reach this target. Though some recent stories that Russia might slow down its program have pushed Putin to say something now, we noticed a fair number of the stories put it in context of the economic downturn: The much-anticipated electricity reform, which was meant to head off looming power shortages and depends on new investments from energy companies, is being threatened by the global economic crisis. Only weeks ago, several energy companies and the gas monopoly Gazprom, which also manages power assets, said they were considering substantial cuts in their investment programs. We suspect Gazprom might have gotten a call from Putin’s office. "We should not by any means abandon the plans that were made before," Putin said during a visit to a nuclear plant in Central Russia, the RIA-Novosti agency reported. "The rules of the game do not change during play." And the call would have sounded something like that. We almost feel this isn’t a story. Of course Russia is going to build new nuclear plants. Of course the economic downturn might slow things down a bit. It’s almost too obvious.

County seeking input on renewable energy policy
Pahrump Valley Times
2009-04-16 08:28:06
By MARK WAITE, TONOPAH, Nye County officials will meet with town boards' "green" energy company officials and government agencies to gather input for a policy on renewable energy. County Manager Rick Osborne said a committee that includes Tonopah Town Manager James Eason, Assistant County Manager Pam Webster, attorney Tyson Smith, Planning Director Jack Lohman, Planner Cheryl Beeman, acting Public Works Director Dave Fanning, Nuclear Waste Project Office Director Darrell Lacy and consultants Walt Kuver and Eileen Christensen is attempting to come up with a plan to regulate the industry. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has received 31 applications to build renewable energy projects on public land in Nye County. In a written statement on the future of renewable energy in Nye County, Osborne wrote: "Needless to say, should all or a portion of these proposals become a reality, Nye County will be a forerunner in the emerging field of renewable and alternative energy production. It is important, however, that we assume this role in a manner that is fiscally, economically and environmentally responsible so that the quality of life in Nye County is maintained and its economic future ensured." Osborne said areas outside Pahrump are largely unregulated. The committee will present an issue statement on renewable energy by July, he said. Nye County Commissioner Joni Eastley Tuesday urged caution. "We've already proven our ability to kill a goose before it has a chance to lay a golden egg by looking at some of the opportunities we missed in Pahrump," Eastley said. "I would caution people to be careful before they start regulating things." The county wants to gather input on: * The anticipated economic benefits of new renewable energy facilities; * The potential impacts on public infrastructure like roads, water, the environment and lighting; * Long-term goals and needs of the renewable energy sector, including demands on the workforce and public facilities; * Establishing a short- and long-term relationship between Nye County and renewable energy providers; * The fiscal impacts on Nye County's budget and funding sources available for additional infrastructure to serve renewable energy facilities; * The relationship between Nye County and other regulatory agencies like the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of Defense and the Public Utilities Commission; * Concerns of Nye County residents, employees and employers on how widespread development of renewable energy may impact their quality of life. Anyone who has questions or wants to submit written comments is asked to write to Richard Osborne, Nye County manager, 401 S. Frontage Road, Suite 5, Pahrump, NV 89048. He can be contacted by phone at 751-7075 or by fax at 751-7093.

New Senate bill would change pay structure in Nevada's nuclear dump office
Associated Press
2009-04-15 20:15:44
A new Nevada Senate bill would change the salary structure in the state Agency for Nuclear Projects, which has led the fight against federal plans for a radioactive waste dump at Yucca Mountain, so that staffers' pay would be set by lawmakers. SB412 deletes the agency, now in the governor's office, from a short list of entities whose employees' pay is controlled by the governor "within the limits of available money." The measure is meant to prevent situations similar to what happened with Bob Loux, the former Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects administrator, a spokesman for Gov. Jim Gibbons said. Loux was cleared recently by the state Ethics Commission of charges that he improperly gave himself and staff unauthorized raises.

Letters to the editor 4-15 | NevadaAppeal.com
Nevada Appeal
2009-04-15 07:05:32
Yucca Mountain: an asset worth billions of dollars! Yucca Mountain is a rich state asset that can bring billions of dollars and thousands of high-paying jobs to Nevada. But our politicians won't let it happen. Finally, the people of this great state are getting beyond the politics and fear-mongering and seeing the new vision for Yucca; not just a repository but a world class nuclear research, development, reprocessing, power generation and storage facility that is safe, and can generate more than $90 billion for Nevada over its projected lifetime, not including thousands of high-paying jobs and infrastructure. This groundswell of support for Yucca is being led by Assemblyman Ty Cobb, who is introducing a resolution (ACR 16) into the legislative committee on Elections, Procedures, Ethics and Constitutional Amendments. It calls for the state Legislature to direct the Agency for Nuclear Projects and the Commission on Nuclear Projects “to take a neutral, science-based” approach and to “immediately seek payments of money from the federal government.” This resolution demands the support of the Legislature and every Nevadan. Let your assemblyman and senator know that you want to move beyond the politics of the past and transform the debate on Yucca Mountain to an open objective evaluation of the facts. Ask them to support ACR 16. Douglas J. Bradshaw Gardnerville, Nevada

Switch to solar is just too costly right now - Las Vegas Sun
2009-04-14 08:27:50

Yucca's demise to cost Nevada
Las Vegas Review-Journal
2009-04-14 08:27:50
The Obama administration and the state's congressional delegation have vowed to financially bleed the decades-old Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project, but doing so probably will cramp Southern Nevada's already hurting economy. That's the observation of University of Nevada, Las Vegas economics professor Keith Schwer. He directs The Center for Business and Economic Research at the university and co-authored a 2003 report on the project's economic impact in the state. "Obviously if you close all of that down, you're not going to have those direct dollars coming into Nevada," Schwer said Thursday. "That translates into an adverse economic impact."

Senate majority leader does Nevada proud - Las Vegas Sun
2009-04-12 07:59:30
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Senate majority leader does Nevada proud Jim Salonisen, Henderson Sun, Apr 12, 2009 (2:06 a.m.) I would like to comment on Sherman Frederick's column in the Las Vegas Review-Journal last Sunday headlined, "Harry Reid: Too big to fail." Yes, this giant of a man is too big to fail. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took on George Bush and Dick Cheney without even flinching and is still working hard for the little guy in this country. I couldn't be more proud of this man. As for Frederick's comparison of Tom Daschle and Harry Reid, sorry, but there is no comparison. Tom Daschle is a nice man but Harry Reid is tough as nails. Frederick wants to know exactly how Harry's power has benefited Nevadans. I will answer that by saying that Sen. Reid helped stop Yucca Mountain and helped Democrats move into the White House. Sen. Reid will easily whip anyone who runs against him in 2010. Give 'em hell, Harry!

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Switch to solar is just too costly right now - Las Vegas Sun
2009-04-14 08:27:50

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