September '08 Nevada Government—Shelley Berkley Column

Emphasizes Solar, Wind, Geothermal;

GOP Still Pushing Pro-Yucca Dump, Baby, Dump! Plan

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley expressed her support for a new clean energy package from House Democrats that includes incentives to help Nevada become a leader in the use and generation of solar, geothermal and other forms of renewable power. A vote on the Democratic clean energy package is set for later this evening

“This comprehensive package makes the right investments in renewable energy and conservation and unlike the GOP’s plan is free of provisions meant to jump start the Bush-McCain Yucca Mountain plan,” said Berkley. “Nevada has a very bright future when it comes to solar and other forms of renewable energy and this balanced legislation will benefit families and will spur job creation and new business opportunities around the Silver State.”

The legislation invests in solar, geothermal and other renewable energy sources that will create abundant power and new jobs. The bill also requires utility companies to generate 15 percent of electricity from renewable sources -- such as wind power, biomass, wave, tidal, geothermal and solar -- by 2020.

“This package follows Nevada’s lead when it comes to requiring that a portion of all the energy we use in America come from wind, sun, geothermal and other forms of renewable power,” said Berkley. “Breaking free of our dependence on fossil fuels by increasing investments in renewable energy will not only enhance America’s national security but it will also help our fight to stop global climate change and the impacts it has had on Nevada from the water in Lake Mead to the snow at Lake Tahoe,” Berkley said. “This provision alone will save consumers billions of dollars while reducing global warming pollution, so it’s a win-win for everyone.”

Increasing domestic renewable energy production will also decrease America’s dependence on energy imported from hostile nations.

“The Saudis and other tyrants cannot squeeze America’s families for every penny when we get our energy from solar and wind made in the USA, not a barrel of oil imported from the Middle East. We are at a crossroads as a nation when it comes to how we power our communities and businesses and Democrats are choosing a path to energy independence that puts the emphasis on clean forms of power and that is great news for southern Nevada given our tremendous renewable energy potential,” said Berkley.

Berkley Announces $2.3 Million Grant

for Boulder City Veterans Cemetery

Funds for New Maintenance Facility

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley announced that the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City has been awarded more than $2.3 million in federal grant funding through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The funding will cover the cost of constructing a new maintenance facility and service yard for the state cemetery which provides service to approximately 180,000 veterans and their dependents living in southern Nevada. As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Berkley has worked to increase burial benefits and marker allowances provided through the VA to U.S. veterans and eligible family members.

“The Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City is the only one of its type in southern Nevada and it continues to serve the Valley’s growing population. This federal grant funding will cover the cost of new facilities needed to properly maintain this place of honor dedicated to the memory of those who bravely wore the uniform of America’s armed forces,” said Berkley.

GRANT SPECIFICS:

Awarded to: State Veterans Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada

Grant Amount: $2,336,512

Description: This grant will fund 100% of the construction of a new maintenance facility and service yard on three acres of state land.

Berkley Announces $550,000 Grant For Vegas PBS

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today announced that southern Nevada’s public broadcasting affiliate Vegas PBS has been awarded more than $550,000 in grant funding through the Department of Commerce for new digital production equipment that will help the station fulfill its mission.

“Public broadcasting is a national treasure and we are so lucky to have Vegas PBS in southern Nevada as a voice for our community and a place where we can all learn about the issues that are affecting Nevada, the nation and the world. These funds will enable Vegas PBS to purchase new digital equipment to help with their mission of educating and informing the public on a range of topics and with programming for all ages,” said Berkley.

The grant was awarded under the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) which supports the expansion and improvement of public telecommunications services by providing matching grants for public facilities that deliver educational and cultural programs across the nation. Established in 1962, PTFP has contributed to bringing public broadcasting services to almost 97% of the population. In addition, PTFP supports the replacement and improvement of the public broadcasting infrastructure including the upgrade to digital technologies. The program also provides funds to educational institutions and non-profit organizations for a variety of technology-oriented distance learning projects.

GRANT SPECIFICS:

Awarded to: Clark County School District/Vegas PBS

Grant Amount: $561,979.00

Description: A project to purchase digital studio and field production equipment; including a production switcher, three studio camera systems, a camcorder system, audio consoles, monitor walls and related equipment.

Berkley Votes To Curb Oil Speculation

Seeks to Protect Nevadans From More Price Spikes at the Gas Pump

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley voted to protect consumers and lower energy costs by curbing speculation in the oil market. Experts blame lax regulations and lax enforcement by the Bush administration for failing to protect the nation from oil speculators allowed to profit at the expense of families paying record prices at the gas pump.

“Combined with our clean energy package, this bill is meant to help families save at the pump by cracking down on run-away oil speculation that experts say has contributed to higher gas prices,” Berkley said.

“By closing the Enron loophole and strengthening enforcement we can prevent market manipulation. Leading experts have testified that excessive speculation we are out to end with this legislation may be responsible for adding another $20 to $60 to the price of oil. While that’s led to record profits for oil companies, it has hurt families in Las Vegas and the Valley’s economy and that is why we must act today to end this rip-off,” said Berkley.

A new independent study by Masters Capital Management found that speculation by large investors was a primary reason for the surge in oil prices during the first half of the year.

H.R. 6604, The Commodity Market Transparency and Accountability Act, takes crucial steps to curb excessive speculation in the energy futures markets, including:

Tighter Oversight: Makes offshore markets trading in the U.S. follow the same rules as U.S. exchanges. About 30 percent of U.S. oil futures trades fly below the regulatory radar because they are transacted on a U.S. exchange that works through a subsidiary in London.

Stronger Limits: Requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to set rules to limit the ability of trades to distort the market.

More Enforcement to Prevent Market Manipulation: calls for a minimum of 100 full-time employees to strengthen enforcement, to prevent manipulation and to prosecute fraud.