Reid says NV Energy ‘violating Sherman Antitrust Act,’ blasts Koch brothers and Donald Trump

By Kyle Roerink

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015 | 2:59 p.m.

Sen. Harry Reid may be retiring, but he is not shying away from political battles.

The Democratic Senate minority leader has less than two years remaining before his retirement but signaled in an interview with the Sun that his war with the Koch brothers, passion for clean energy policies and persistence on gun control won’t fade in the twilight of his career.

Here are the highlights from today’s interview.

SOLAR ENERGY

No one in Congress has fought harder for renewables than Reid. As the battle between NV Energy and rooftop solar continues in Nevada, Reid showed little inhibition about the challenges facing the emerging industry.

In regards to NV Energy, Reid made reference to a landmark piece of legislation that limited the power of monopolies in the country. “Looking at this as a lawyer, my personal feeling is that this is a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act,” he said.

Reid said NV Energy is part of a nationwide battle to limit rooftop solar that’s led by billionaire fossil fuel barons Charles and David Koch. NV Energy's parent company, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, has fought to eliminate rooftop solar programs in legislatures, utility commissions and courtrooms across the country. NV Energy tried to thwart a measure that would have allowed more rooftop solar in Nevada during the 2015 legislative session.

“The Koch brothers are worth more than 135 million Americans combined," Reid said. “Why are they interested in stopping rooftop solar? It hurts their bottom line — their tar sands project in Canada. Their coal, oil and gas here in America ... NV Energy is part of it ... Their bottom line is money, profits.”

BERNIE SANDERS

Reid has close ties with the Clinton family and said former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has an overwhelming lead in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. But Reid offered support for his Senate colleague and Democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders.

“He’s been a fighter for the little guy for a long time,” he said. “I admire him a lot. He’s been extremely good to me politically and personally. But so have the Clintons.”

DONALD TRUMP

Long before Trump became a GOP presidential candidate, he backed Democrats.

Reid said Trump has thrown events for him in the past. But he offered no support.

“I think he is going to fade and burn,” he said. “Everyone thought he would be gone weeks ago.

Reid said Trump was still in the mix because he was voicing the Republican Party's values like its exclusionary approach to social welfare programs and immigration.

"I think it is hard to dump somebody that’s speaking for what you want to say.”

IRAN

President Barack Obama needs at least 34 senators to agree with him on his deal with Iran that aims to prevent the country from building a nuclear weapon while allowing the nation to enrich uranium for potential energy production.

Democrats have not been quick to back Obama.

Reid didn’t publicly announce his position but said he has read the document outlining the compromise. Sen. Chuck Schumer, Reid’s likely successor as Democratic leader in the Senate, said he will vote no on President Obama’s Iran deal.

Reid says he’s listened to more than 20 hours of briefings, talked to Secretary of State John Kerry and met with confidants and advisers to work through the deal. He praised Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz for his work on the negotiations and said he met with religious groups for input.

“It’s a difficult deal,” Reid said.

GUNS

This summer has seen gun violence that has left churchgoers, moviegoers, military personnel and other innocents dead.

To the chagrin of Reid, Congress has failed to pass background check legislation that would mandate all gun sales connect to the FBI’s criminal database that advocates say would help prevent the mentally ill or convicted criminals from buying firearms.

Reid says there is still no push for reforming gun laws in Congress.

“Unless we are going to at least do background checks, at the next terrible event I will be on the floor lamenting it again,” he said.