August 16, 2007

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he has a plan to stop development of three coal-fired power plants in Nevada, but he's not talking about it yet.

Reid says he doesn't want to tip his hand in the fight against the plants. He made the comment at town hall on energy yesterday.

The Democrat is pushing for development of renewable energy sources instead of coal. He's planning a similar energy forum in Las Vegas later in the month.

July 26, 2007

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he'll do everything he can to stop construction of three major coal-fired power plants in his home state of Nevada and will push for more alternative energy development.

Reid says it would make sense politically to support the proposed eastern Nevada projects but,  "I can't do it. My conscience wouldn't let me."

Two of the projects are near Ely and the third is near Mesquite. Reid said the Ely-area projects alone would require millions of tons of coal a year that in turn would generate millions of tons of pollution.

Reid commented after sending letters to the heads of Reno-based Sierra Pacific Resources, Sithe Global Power in New York, LS Power in New Jersey and Dynegy Inc. in Texas. Sierra Pacific and Sithe Global have separate projects while LS Power and Dynegy are developing the third project.

Spokesmen for the companies all defended their projects as necessary and also said they're making major investments in renewable energy as well.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)