Rural wind project would create jobs, bolster local economies

To the editor:

As a businessman who owns numerous businesses throughout Nevada, I am writing on a matter of importance to all Nevadans.

SolarReserve is building the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, a very different type of electrical generation plant just outside of Tonopah. It is cutting-edge American technology that uses molten salt to generate solar energy, even after the sun goes down. Just as important as the technology, the project will put 450 people back to work on construction and result in another 4,000 "indirect" and "induced" jobs. The project will put America back on top in one of the most important areas of technological advancement: energy production that does not rely on foreign oil.

But just as the developer is about to break ground, the project could be shut down because of disagreements in Washington, D.C. As a part of the House budget package, the GOP wants to cut funds from the Department of Energy Federal Loan Guarantee program, which would kill all non-nuclear projects with pending DOE loan guarantees, including the Crescent Dunes project, and cause the loss of thousands of jobs.

It's important to remember, the loan guarantee program is not a government grant. It is a loan, and the developers have to pay every cent back plus the interest. The government actually stands to make money on this program.

That just demonstrates the absurdity of this debate, which couldn't come at a worse time.

SolarReserve is a company that was given a promise by the United States. If they did all of their planning, fulfilled all their environmental work and got an agreement from NV Energy to buy the electricity, they would have a loan guarantee waiting for them. This company did all of their appropriate preparation, worked with the Air Force, even got approval from the Interior secretary to build on public lands -- and now some in Congress are threatening not to hold up on their end.

This is the type of construction and the type of jobs that Nevada needs more than ever. Conventional electrical development uses massive amounts of water. Once the economy turns around, Nevada will still be constrained by a severe lack of water. The molten salt system uses far less water than conventional electrical generation and, it doesn't add to pollution. It doesn't add to our reliance on foreign oil, which has become a bigger headache than ever as so few oil exporters are true friends of America. Because several oil supplying nations are so unstable, every step away from oil puts us on a more solid footing economically.

Just imagine what it does for communities across our state as construction workers will be returning to work. These are families who won't be facing foreclosure; they won't be going to sleep at night agonizing about possibly losing everything they have worked for. Instead of adding to the unemployment and worrying about their future, these families will be paying their mortgages and other household bills, thinking about taking the family out to dinner.

There is a lot to be said for the simple dignity of picking up a paycheck and coming home knowing you are back on the job. You and your family are helping the community, helping the state and helping America return to work.

It's not much of a stretch to envision just how many of those payroll dollars will return to businesses, banks, retail stores. This money won't return to the local economy a few years from now, the effect will come almost overnight.

As a Nevada business owner, I have my own reasons for caring about this decision. I own businesses throughout the state. I own hotels and taverns in central Nevada. I own a car dealership here in Southern Nevada that has been doing business for 39 years. We pay big tax bills, but we can only pay them when we are doing business.

I am just like the thousands of other business owners throughout the state; whenever my cash register rings, Nevada is one step closer to being able to cover its bills.

SolarReserve's Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project is the perfect generator of electricity and in 2011, it is the perfect generator of new jobs. This 110-megawatt solar tower plant will initially generate enough electricity to power 75,000 Nevada households, and this clean green energy will eventually be distributed in Southern Nevada. This is cutting edge, American technology that puts America ahead of the pack in technology. If given a chance to advance, it is going to put Nevadans back on the job.

I encourage Nevadans to call Sens. John Ensign and Harry Reid at 800-833-6354, and tell them that if they care about Nevada jobs and business development, now is the time to champion the Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Program.

Jim Marsh

Las Vegas