Summit signals hope for clean energy

Karen Kostoff, Henderson

Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008 | 2:08 a.m.

When environmentalists of different philosophies agree, you know the momentum for real change is building. I was at the recent Clean Energy Summit at UNLV and have to applaud Sen. Harry Reid for putting it together. There were speakers from across the political spectrum. It was enlightening, informative and addressed serious energy issues in our country and how Nevada could be the greatest contributor.

It gave me a sense of hope during this economic downturn. So many jobs could be created while building up our economy and saving us from high gas prices, the high cost of electricity and the pollution that results from sources we use now. More coal plants are not the answer, and there is no such thing as “clean coal.”

I heard that in Denver recently, Texas oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens and Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope talked about the Pickens plan, which calls for huge increases in investment and production of wind power, and using American natural gas as a transitional fuel for transportation.

Americans should take notice — while more drilling for oil might enrich big oil companies trying to wring every drop out of oil profits before the inevitable, the real economic opportunity lies not with the failed ideas of the past but with real investment in the transition to a clean energy economy.

The failed policies of the past won’t move us forward. True economic opportunity for all Americans is in clean energy technologies such as wind and solar. It is a great economic opportunity for Nevada as well. Reid has always wanted to make Nevada the No. 1 state in renewable energy. We can let our candidates and leaders in Washington know that we want that too.

Being a Sierra Club supporter, I’d say if T. Boone Pickens and Carl Pope realize this, it’s time we all follow that path.