Senator pushes for energy research
Nevada state Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Washoe, said Tuesday he has requested $50 million for the Nevada university system and Desert Research Institute for energy and environmental research.Townsend spoke to an energy policy class at the University of Nevada, Reno about current energy legislation that could push Nevada to the forefront of innovative energy policy.
Townsend recently asked Sen. Harry Reid to help secure the $50 million request in federal money for the state’s university system. If secured, the money woud fund research and education in energy and environmental research.
Townsend’s request comes at a time when more and more students enroll in UNR’s energy policy and politics class, professor John Scire said.
“The energy policy and politics class I teach is always maxed out because energy policy becomes more relevant every year and more vital to the economic well-being of this country,” Scire said.
He said that when he started teaching the course 10 years ago, he had about 15 students. Now, the class has grown to 40.
If Reid can secure the $50 million, those funds would go to more energy policy courses and research opportunities, Townsend said.
“We will lead this country in energy policy as long as I’m in the senate,” Townsend said.
Nevada leads the country in solar and geothermal energy production per capita, he said.
Townsend said the state should improve its current energy policy, such as the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).
Nevada legislators passed the RPS bill in the early 1990s, which requires utilities to use a predetermined percentage of renewable energy.
When it passed, the law only required power companies to use 5 percent renewable energy. That number will rise to 20 percent by 2015.
To stay ahead of other states, Townsend said he wants to increase the RPS to 25 percent or 30 percent by 2015 in the next legislative session.
Townsend sponsored a bill in 2007 that provides a 50 percent state property tax break for buildings that are energy-friendly in accordance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, which includes the Joe Crowley Student Union.
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