Weatherization is the future of construction

To the editor:

As a member of the Laborers Local 872, I was saddened to see the editorial you published Dec. 22 criticizing the merits of weatherization. I can tell you that the stimulus funds coming to weatherize homes and businesses in the Las Vegas area are a huge bright spot for many of the unemployed skilled workers in our union and others.

At the end of October, our union graduated its first class of apprentices specializing in weatherization. Most of them already have jobs making homes and businesses more energy-efficient.

Many of these workers already were skilled workers, but are going through additional training through our program and others to diversify their skills so they are better prepared to update the existing stock of houses and commercial buildings. Already, the federal government has sent millions to Nevada to make our buildings more energy-efficient, and we expect the weatherization industry to grow.

This could be the future of construction in Southern Nevada. Can you imagine that, instead of in years past, when we scrambled to build as quickly as we could, we invest in our existing buildings, making them more energy-efficient? We would continue to create jobs, save money on power bills and reduce our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, such as coal.

Already, groups such as HELP of Southern Nevada are utilizing federal funds to weatherize low-income homes in the Las Vegas area, reducing power bills for the people who need help the most.

Many of the workers who are graduating from our program had few options for the future and were desperate to care for their families. Now, they have the skills to participate in an emerging industry.

Joe Taylor

LAS VEGAS

THE WRITER IS DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTHERN NEVADA LABORERS-EMPLOYERS COOPERATION AND EDUCATION TRUST.

Summit was no sham

To the editor:

Your Dec. 21 editorial, "Climate folly," was an unfair critique of the Copenhagen summit. While public sentiment may be one of disappointment, calling the conference itself a "sham" is not only misleading, but disingenuous.

The true accomplishment of the Copenhagen meetings is that for the first time ever, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters agreed to pursue emission reductions. This is especially true of China and India -- two developing countries -- and the United States, all of whom had not yet agreed to do so. This is historic, and it represents the first truly global effort to deal with climate change.

For business, the Copenhagen accords make important reference to the critical role of markets in mobilizing the financing needed to address climate change. You took a broad sideswipe at the economics of the accords, suggesting that America should send Adam Smith's works to the developing world.

However, the accords create the prospect of allowing American entrepreneurs to partner with developing countries to earn emissions credits from halting deforestation in developing countries. This important policy could help contain costs in America's climate legislation in a way that Adam Smith would admire.

Finally, in my two weeks as an observer to the talks, I saw none of the participants traveling in limousines and private jets. Yes, there were police-protected motorcades for heads of state, something that is standard operating procedure for ensuring the safety and security of world leaders in this day and age. But most of us "participants" traveled by subway, bus or foot because it was faster than a fancy car.

Dirk Forrister

BOULDER, COLO.

Cost-effective?

To the editor:

Curtis Myles III, president and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Monorail, wrote a letter to the editor published Dec. 25. He wrote the letter in response to a recent Review-Journal article and editorial about the restructuring of the monorail's debt and the possibility that the monorail may file for bankruptcy.

Yet Mr. Myles wrote: "Since inception, the Las Vegas Monorail has been the most cost-effective and efficiently operated public transportation system in the country."

I followed Mr. Myles' advice and visited lvmonorail.com/corporate to learn more.

The very first page of the company's 2008 audited financial statement says, "The company is in default with certain payment covenants on their 1st and 2nd tier revenue bonds. ... These conditions raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern."

It is frightening that Mr. Myles would have the nerve to write that the monorail is "cost-effective and efficiently operated" -- even more frightening than when pieces of the monorail were falling off years ago, and when the doors to the monorail were suddenly opening while in transit.

If the monorail shuts down, Mr. Myles would have a bright future in the national health care administration. It will be "the most-cost effective and efficiently operated health care system in the world."

Don't hold your breath!

Ari Stotland

LAS VEGAS

Harry's better than you

To the editor:

An open question for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada:

If the health care bill you just ramrodded through the Senate is so good, why did you exclude yourself from being covered by it?

Shades of "Animal Farm": I guess you are more equal than us peons.

Ed Epperson

LAS VEGAS