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For
Immediate Release:
June 12, 2008 |
Print Version (pdf)
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GOVERNOR SIGNS ORDER CREATING SECOND PHASE OF RENEWABLE
ENERGY TRANSMISSION ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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(Carson
City,
NV)
–
Governor
Jim
Gibbons
today
signed
an
executive
order
creating
a
second
phase
of
his
Renewable
Energy
Transmission
Access
Advisory
Committee
to
further
the
committee’s
first
efforts
of
identifying
transmission
corridors
necessary
for
renewable
energy
development
in
Nevada.
The
committee
is
charged
with
determining
power
potential
for
renewable
energy
zones
designated
by
the
first
phase,
review
environmental,
land
use
and
permitting
constraints,
identify
potential
construction
corridors
that
could
avoid
these
constraints
and
review
potential
revenue
needs
for
construction,
among
other
duties.
“I
cannot
emphasize
enough
the
importance
of
developing
Nevada’s
transmission
infrastructure,”
the
Governor
said.
“Today
more
than
ever,
I
strongly
believe
that
the
key
to
developing
our
renewable
energy
resources
is
making
sure
that
we
have
the
necessary
infrastructure
in
place
to
bring
in
companies
that
will
be
our
partners
in
developing
our
clean
energy
resources
while
freeing
Nevada
of
its
dependence
on
imported
energy.
A
few
months
ago,
the
first
RETAAC
committee
made
a
recommendation
to
initiate
Phase
II
to
define
the
environmental
and
physical
feasibility
issues,
costs
and
potential
financing
mechanisms
associated
with
the
recommended
14
transmission
routes.
This
committee
will
implement
this
recommendation.”
Dr.
Hatice
Gecol,
the
governor’s
Energy
and
Science
Advisor
and
Director
of
the
State
Energy
Office,
said
the
Governor’s
decision
to
move
forward
with
Phase
II
is a
critical
step
in
freeing
Nevada
of
its
dependence
on
imported
energy.
“Renewable
energy
development
is
one
of
the
top
priorities
for
Governor
Gibbons
and
Nevada,”
Gecol
said.
“This
committee
will
identify
and
rank
the
transmission
lines
that
are
feasible
to
build
and
will
identify
the
financing
mechanism
necessary
for
their
development.
I am
looking
forward
to
working
with
the
committee.”
The
committee
members
appointed
by
the
Governor
includes
representation
from
the
key
interest
groups
that
will
work
together
to
further
the
development.
The
19
members
are:
-
Daniel
(Dan)
Schochet,
Vice
President,
formerly
with
ORMAT
(chair)
-
George
Caan,
Executive
Director,
Colorado
River
Commission
of
Nevada
-
Alan
Coyner,
Administrator,
Nevada
Division
of
Minerals
-
Leo
Drozdoff,
Administrator
of
the
Nevada
Division
of
Environmental
Protection
-
Mendy
Elliott,
Director,
Nevada
Department
of
Business
and
Industry
-
Thomas
Fair,
Executive
Renewable
Energy,
Nevada
Power
and
Sierra
Pacific
-
Dr.
Hatice
Gecol,
Director,
Nevada
State
Office
of
Energy
-
Dr.
Jason
Geddes,
Environmental
Services
Manager,
City
of
Reno
-
Mark
Harris,
Resource
Planning
Engineer,
Public
Utilities
Commission
of
Nevada
-
Joseph
Johnson,
Legislative
Co-Chair,
Toiyabe
Chapter
of
Sierra
Club
-
Scott
Krantz,
Director
Energy
Management,
Southern
Nevada
Water
Authority
-
Brian
Krolicki,
Lieutenant
Governor
and
Chairman,
Commission
on
Economic
Development
-
Amy
Lueders,
associate
state
director,
BLM
Nevada
-
Kenneth
Mayer,
Director,
Nevada
Department
of
Wild
Life
-
Edward
Monnig,
Forest
Supervisor,
Humboldt-Toiyabe
National
Forest
-
Christy
Morris,
Oil,
Gas,
and
Geothermal
Program
Manager,
Nevada
Division
of
Minerals
-
Dr.
Yasuji
Otsuka,
Senior
Economist,
Public
Utilities
Commission
of
Nevada
-
Mario
Villar,
Executive
Transmission,
Nevada
Power
and
Sierra
Pacific
Power
-
Rebecca
Wagner,
Commissioner,
Public
Utilities
Commission
of
Nevada
Dan
Schochet
will
chair
Phase II
of
RETAAC
after
also
serving
as
chairman
of the
first
committee.
“On
behalf
of this
committee,
we are
pleased
and
ready to
tackle
this
task of
studying
and
recommending
the
mechanisms
to
finance
and
construct
the
additional
transmission
lines
required
to bring
the
state’s
vast
renewable
energy
resources
to the
citizens
of
Nevada,”
Schochet
said.
RETAAC
finalized
its
initial
report
on Dec.
31, 2007
and
presented
it to
the
Governor
on Jan.
24,
2008.
The
final
report
can be
found at
http://gov.state.nv.us/Energy/FinalReport.htm.
Phase II
is
charged
with
finalizing
its
report
and
making
recommendations
to the
Governor
by July
31,
2009.
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# # # |
Ben Kieckhefer, Press
Secretary
(775) 684-5667
Office of the Governor . 101 North Carson Street . Carson City, NV
89701 . Fax: (775) 684-7198
Grant Sawyer State Office Bldg . 555 East Washington, Suite 5100 . Las
Vegas, NV 89101 . Fax: (702) 486-2505
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