Reid’s renewable plan proactive
To the editor:
Your June 23 editorial "Who could object to a 'green' power line?" failed to recognize the benefits of proactive transmission that Sen. Harry Reid and policymakers across the country have embraced. Transmission for Nevada's abundant renewable energy resources must be built in a proactive manner -- and soon. This will benefit consumers by ensuring a steady supply of electricity from clean, renewable geothermal, solar and wind resources. Modern renewable energy technologies provide reliable electric power at rates that are stable over decades.
Why now? Nevada is the nation's second fastest-growing state and needs steadily increasing amounts of electric power every year; electricity demand is expected to soar by 50 percent in the next two decades. We need to begin building transmission infrastructure now that will deliver this new power.
Clean renewable power projects can generally be built much more quickly than new transmission lines. Texas, California and Colorado understand this -- all three have passed laws allowing new transmission to be built quickly to renewable-rich resource areas. Meanwhile, the Western Governors Association is working to hasten new transmission throughout the entire West.
Sen. Reid's legislation also spurs proactive transmission development, giving federal power marketing associations the authority they need to lead transmission development out of their resource-rich territories. His bill's requirement that these new lines carry 75 percent renewable energy reflects the fact that renewable projects can be built much more quickly than the lines themselves.
To ensure continued economic development and stable electricity prices for Nevada consumers in the future, the time for action on transmission is now. We are fortunate that Sen. Reid is leading the way.
Craig Cox
CONIFER, COLO.
THE WRITER IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INTERWEST ENERGY ALLIANCE.
Speech snitches
To the editor:
It's sad to see a renowned comedian and performer such as Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller reduced to apologizing for a particular attempt at humor (Tuesday letter to the editor).
Ever since political correctness began infiltrating the English language back in the 1960s, its sinister effects have made fearless speech -- including humor -- a fading phenomenon. When was the license to insult revoked for comedians?
Those who prize humor for humor's sake would do well to take a stand against the ubiquitous speech snitches. Unless they're kept in check, we could be looking at a frightening addition to the Department of Homeland Security: the Word Police.
O, Georges -- Orwell and Carlin -- where art thee?
Pat Gallotta
LAS VEGAS
Illegals in schools
To the editor:
The headline in Tuesday's Review-Journal reads: "Freeze alarms teachers."
What a conundrum we have within our school district. On the one hand we have a hiring freeze because of a shortfall of funds and questionable enrollment growth, and on the other hand we ignore the approximately 15 to 20 percent of students whose parents are illegal aliens. The cost in additional classrooms, multilingual teachers, medical care and food programs, to mention a few, is astronomical.
But no one wants to address this politically sensitive problem. It's much easier for the superintendent of schools and his entourage to bemoan the lack of taxpayer funds and ignore the elephant in the room.
John J. Erlanger
LAS VEGAS
'Spiritual' doctor?
To the editor:
Some of Dr. Dipak Desai's allies say he's a "decidedly spiritual man" (Sunday Review-Journal).
But performing the rituals of a religion, no matter how often, doesn't make a person spiritual. Rituals are meant to help us not do the greedy and destructive things Dr. Desai is accused of doing.
Helping others? Sure. He wants to help others make him even richer, and to help others play high-stakes games with their health.
John Hurd
HENDERSON
Benedict Arnold
To the editor:
It is a bit hypocritical to celebrate Benedict Arnold as a "great American hero," as the Review-Journal did in its July Fourth editorial.
Yes, he did gallop "onto the field of battle without anyone's permission, waving his hat and shouting, 'Follow me, men!' " But at that point in time he had been a general in the Continental Army, had been removed from command and disobeyed direct orders to not lead troops.
That the only mention of Benedict Arnold was this one particular event seems rather peculiar, as everyone knows his name is synonymous with treason and being a traitor. He almost single-handedly turned victory and freedom into defeat and continued slavery to the king of England by agreeing to trade West Point to the British for 20,000 pounds. Fortunately, our current freedoms are result of his associate, John Andre, a British major, being captured and the plot being uncovered.
This is hardly the work of some little "storekeeper from New Haven." By the way, it's in all the history books.
Tim Doyle
LAS VEGAS
