Fresh Ideas: ‘Please, sir, I want more clean energy’

By Anne Macquarie |December 15, 2015 I like to conserve energy — for the sake of my wallet and for the sake of the environment. NV Energy tells me my home uses much less energy than most similar homes in my area. Not bad. But I want to get to 100 percent clean energy, so I’ve […]

Nations Approve Landmark Climate Accord in Paris

By Coral Davenport |December 12, 2015 LE BOURGET, France — With the sudden bang of a gavel Saturday night, representatives of 195 nations reached a landmark accord that will, for the first time, commit nearly every country to lowering planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions to help stave off the most drastic effects of climate change. The deal, which […]

Sandoval gets results on sage grouse — without lawsuits

By Steve Sebelius |December 6, 2015 Friday was a good day for Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. During a meeting of the Western Governors’ Association in Las Vegas, Sandoval met on the sidelines with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. The subject: A list of concerns over efforts to protect the sage grouse, a chicken-size, ground-dwelling bird with habitat […]

Sandoval: New sage grouse maps allow for school near Reno

By Michelle Rindels |December 5, 2015 RENO — The U.S. Interior Department has agreed to defer to new, higher quality maps of sage grouse habitat in Nevada that correct glaring inaccuracies in earlier federal maps that showed the birds living near urban areas in Reno and Sparks and threatened development on the drawing board for years, […]

Letter: Setting record straight on protecting grouse habitat

By Amy Lueders |November 26, 2015 In response to the op-ed by Washoe County Commissioner Jeanne Herman [ “BLM land use plan negatively impacts Reno-Sparks growth,” Voices, Nov. 5], I would like to correct the record on a key point. (Read More)

Regulators could decide next week on gaming companies’ exit from Nevada Power

By Sean Whaley |November 25, 2015 State regulators are expected to decide next week on whether three major gaming companies can leave Nevada Power Co. and secure their own electricity supplies on the open market. All three exit applications by MGM Resorts International, Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands Corp. are on the agenda for the […]

Public lands would be in danger if given to individual states

By Doug Nielsen |November 25, 2015 Today many of us will sit down with family and friends to break bread and, in some cases, give thanks. After all, it is Thanksgiving Day. My late wife’s family has a mealtime tradition wherein my father-in-law asks one or more people at the table “What are you thankful for?” […]

Nevada judge won’t rule on sage grouse before Christmas

By Scott Sonner |November 24, 2015 RENO, NEV. — A federal judge in Nevada is postponing a decision on whether to block U.S. regulations protecting the greater sage grouse, partly because she’s not clear if the rules are really to blame for delays in construction of a rural water supply tank near Great Basin National Park […]

City of Las Vegas plans to go to 100 percent renewable energy

By Kyle Roerink |November 24, 2015 As the sun beat down on a small array of solar panels in front of City Hall today, Mayor Carolyn Goodman announced Las Vegas would be the first city of its size to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. The city will expand its partnership with NV Energy to […]

One view: Nevada can’t afford to run public lands

By Tina Nappe |November 17, 2015 Imagine a Truckee Meadows where we now enjoy open space right at our doorstep to hike, bike, walk our dogs and enjoy scenic landscapes, filled with houses (no lawns) rim to rim. Why? Because Congress has transferred our public lands to the state. And the state, in order to pay the costs […]