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By Robert L. Candiotti, October 4,
2008 There is a phoenix in Nevada. Not like Phoenix, Arizona. Not a city. Rather,
it is inspiration and development rising phoenixlike from the ashes of the high-carbon fuel history on the planet. In Egyptian mythology, the phoenix is a majestic red and gold bird that emerges from ashes
to represent rebirth at the end of an era. In Nevada, today's
phoenix is the rising commitment to renewable energy, ascending from the seriousness of global warming and the shackles of
foreign oil. The prospect of clean energy is rising inexorably in Nevada.
With the potential to become a world leader in solar and geothermal power, as well as a formidable generator of wind power,
Nevada is emerging as a centerpiece of clean energy.
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Former U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Al Gore, in a July 18, 2008, speech in Washington,
D.C., said that "our dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels is at the core" of America's "economic,
environmental and national security crises." He asked, "What if we could use fuels that are
not expensive, don't cause pollution and are abundantly available right here at home?" He referred to "solar
power, wind power and geothermal power to make electricity for our homes and businesses." Nevada
can - and wants to - develop all three forms of renewable energy. Pun intended, there is plenty of energy behind the ascendancy
of renewable energy in Nevada.
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 Nevada's Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is an unwavering advocate of developing renewable energy
in Nevada. He was one of the primary sponsors of August's National Clean Energy Conference at the University of Nevada,
Las Vegas. Directly following the conference, also at the university, the 2008 UNLV Renewable Energy Symposium was held.
At that symposium, on August 20, Thomas Fair, renewable energy executive at Nevada Power Company, gave a speech titled "Renewable
Energy: The Future is Now," which reflects the enthusiasm in Nevada right now for the development of renewable energy
industries. More recently, Nevada Power's parent company, Sierra Pacific Resources, announced the
new company name - which is NV Energy. Nevada Power Co. and Sierra Pacific Power now have one name - NV Energy.
Regarding the new name, Michael Yackira, the company's president and CEO, said, "The NV Energy name accurately
reflects the company's ongoing effort to be the premier provider of energy in Nevada for Nevadans."
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 "Power" is out. "Energy" is in. And for sure, "energy" implies renewable energy
in the Southwest of the United States. NV Energy provides a feeling of youthfulness and vigor. As well
as a bit of Western independence. Nevada is a state of independence defined as embracing and reflecting
libertarianism. According to Libertarianism.com, the pillars of the libertarian philosophy are: "liberty
(the freedom to live your life in any peaceful way you choose, responsibility (the prohibition against the use of
force against others, except in defense), and tolerance (honoring and respecting the peaceful choices of others)."
Nevada is imbued with extensive resources for solar, wind and geothermal energy. In government, at the university, and among
the citizens, there is significant interest in making Nevada a national leader in the development of renewable
energy. Freedom from carbon generation through advancements in green energy will help Nevada maintain its foundation
of libertarianism. Nevada has a lot of resources, but probably not a lot of time. Al Gore said, "The
leading experts predict that we have less than 10 years to make dramatic changes in our global warming pollution lest we lose
our ability to ever recover from this environmental crisis."
 Ten years is reasonably the time frame
that dramatic advancements can be made in renewable technology. NV Energy and its partners can develop significant and robust
renewable industries in the areas of solar, wind and geothermal. If there is
any state in the U.S. that has the components for a major transition to renewable energy, it is Nevada. In Nevada, the carbon energy era is moving downward. Phoenix in Nevada is rising.
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