Sustainable Senator Harry Reid 2010

It has been a year since I heard United States Senator Harry Reid of Nevada deliver his speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

I was home in Las Vegas, August 27, 2008, watching the convention on T.V. The content of his speech was surprisingly intense. And refreshingly clear.

From the first sentence, "The history of the last hundred years has been a toxic mix of oil and war," my attention was held.

Reid took a strong position on the perils and pitfalls of petroleum. He fervently pointed out a new path for renewable energy policy in the U.S.

In last year's convention speech, Reid referred to the 2008 energy summit that had taken place only about a week earlier at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Organized by Reid, the Center for American Progress and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the essence of the 2008 summit was the need for advancements in renewable energy, and for an "energy-smart America."

The 2008 summit was interesting and invigorating. I was there.

However, it was Reid's speech at the Democratic National Convention that caused me to really feel the Senate Majority Leader from Nevada was dedicated to, and deep-rooted in, establishing a sustainable energy future for the United States.

In fact - on the "Senator Reid's Democratic Convention Speech 2008" page posted a year ago on this website - at the end of my comments about Reid's convention speech, I stated, "It will be interesting to see how it reads in a year or so."

A year has passed.

A week ago, on August 10, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, I attended the National Clean Energy Summit 2.0. To me, it was powerful and trenchant. It was a step up from the already hard-hitting energy summit at UNLV in 2008. It was well-organized and sophisticated. It was informative and sincere. And, clearly, it was rife with a sense of urgency.

Clean Energy Summit 2.0. photo by John Gurzinski

From left, Senator Harry Reid, Tim Wirth, John Podesta, Al Gore, Hilda Solis, T. Boone Pickens.

National Clean Energy Summit 2.0 did make me think of Senator Reid's speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention because it made me conclude that Reid not only believes in the necessity of a new energy path in the U.S., but he is also willing to invest much of his time and his influence in the continuation of a escape from the nation's (quoting from the 2008 convention speech) "slippery, oil-slicked, downward-winding path" toward a dead end of "utter destruction."

With the passage of one year since his national convention address in support of the nomination and election of Barack Obama, Reid's resolve for a new energy direction has clearly strengthened, not weakened. He is serious. He is dedicated to transforming this nation's energy foundation from high carbon enervation to low carbon revitalization. Also, he wants to create vast numbers of new, livable wage "green" jobs in the process.

Harry Reid obviously is committed to the future of sustainable energy in Nevada and the nation. And it appears that he himself, facing a reelection in 2010, is establishing a position of strength and is showing qualities of sustainability.

By Robert L. Candiotti

August 17, 2009

These days I do not doubt that my home realm of Southern Nevada is becoming recognized as one of the centers of the world for research and development of renewable energy. Senator Harry Reid is largely responsible for this. In fact, at the opening of National Clean Energy Summit 2.0, Dr. Neal Smatresk, UNLV's new president, said that Reid's "efforts are putting us on the map."

Photo courtesy Center for American Progress

United States Senator Harry Reid of Nevada at the National Clean Energy Summit 2.0,, August 10, 2009

Reid himself obviously believes this is a serious and significant time in the United States.

In his introductory remarks, he said, "We are firing the first shots of a new revolution." He added, "If we do not start today, we will lose out to other countries."

In fact, it was pointed out that today the United States only has about one of the top ten of both the world's largest wind and solar structures.

Gore complimented Reid on organizing the summit.

Gore stated, "This is an act of leadership for you to pull this together."

Former Vice President Al Gore, also at Clean Energy Summit 2.0, said America's long-term existence depends on a renewable course for energy. Gore said, "We owe it to our children and grandchildren." He said if nothing is done, American progeny will ask, "Didn't you notice that the entire ice pack was melting?" Gore emphasized things have to be confronted right now. "This is our generation's mandate mission," he said.

As a resident of Nevada, and having done some research, I know the state is well-endowed with solar and geothermal resources. But the question is: Are sustainable changes being incorporated fast enough?

Gore noted that China is absolutely focused on moving ahead rapidly in the development of renewable energy infrastructure.

In addition to that, it was pointed out that "China has made $100 billion in oil deals with many countries" - such as Russia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Nigeria - to make sure that, in light of declining oil availability due to depletion in the ground, they have petroleum for the long run.

More than one speaker pointed out that the U.S., with 4 percent of the world's population, is using 25 percent of the global oil that is being consumed. It was urged that U.S. troops should not depart from Iraq without a commitment from that country for petroleum sales to the United States.

At the National Clean Energy Summit 2.0, there was talk about how the United States has been losing its credibility in the eyes of people all around the world. Entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens, who lately has found common ground with Reid in pursuit of developing sustainable energy, said America's solution to that issue is simple: Domestic energy sources need to take the place of petroleum.

Pickens' position is the country needs to work with the energy potential that lies entirely within U.S. borders. "The easiest way to get our credibililty back is to get on our own resources," he stated.

When the U.S. Congress returns to Washington in fall 2009, legislation about renewable energy is supposed to be a major area of focus.

Several of Summit 2.0's speakers referred to this. Gore said, "The key challenge will be this fall in the U.S. Congress in passing energy legislation." Obviously, Harry Reid will regularly be in the news while all this is going on. Most likely, this will even better position him for his upcoming reelection campaign.

There were many other speakers at National Clean Energy Summit 2.0. There were countless interesting and important things said. Aside from the major address by Former President Bill Clinton, there were noteworthy remarks by Energy Secretary Stephen Chu, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund John Podesta, U.S. Senator from Washington state Maria Cantwell, Van Jones from the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Chairman of Growth Energy United States General Wesley Clark.

What is obvious to many is the fact that Senator Harry Reid is the primary catalyst for what appears to be evolving as an annual event at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

No doubt, Reid is one of the country's leaders in sustainable energy progress, and this will surely help his own sustainability as he faces a reelection campaign in 2010.

And the future of Ivanpah Valley Airport as a trend-setting "green airport" can only be enhanced by Senator Reid's commitment to a green energy revolution in Nevada, the West, and the nation.