(Thomas Mitchell/4TH ST8) After the Los Angeles City Council this week approved a 25-year contract between the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and K Road Moapa Solar, which is building solar panels on Moapa Band of Paiute Indians tribal land north of Las Vegas, Sen. Harry Reid issued a gushing press release about the deal.
“I am pleased that the City of Los Angeles took action to secure a clean energy future by using affordable and predictably priced power from Nevada,” said Reid, not bothering to mention that the “predictably priced power” will cost the customers of LADWP 9.4 cents per kWh at a time when utilities are generating electricity from natural gas-fired turbines for about 2 cents a kWh.
Reid’s press release continues:
“By investing in a long-term relationship with a clean energy producer Los Angeles will be able to provide clean power to more than 118,000 homes. This public-private-tribal partnership is a powerful example about the benefits clean energy can bring to Nevada’s economy and the project is expected to create 400 jobs during peak construction and 15-20 permanent jobs. Unlike the old, dirty technologies used at the nearby Reid-Gardner coal plant, this new solar project will not emit any hazardous emissions, wastes, or carbon pollution. (Reid takes still another dig at the Reid-Gardner plant and its operator NV Energy and fails to take into account the highly toxic byproducts from the production of solar panels or how they will be disposed of when their lifespan is complete.)
“In building out K Road’s solar capabilities in Nevada, hundreds of clean energy jobs will be created. (Using taxpayer subsidies for construction and forcing ratepayers to pay higher bills takes money out of the private sector that probably could’ve produced twice as many jobs, according to numerous studies.) By beginning the process of working towards energy independence, the Moapa Band of Paiutes will have a unique opportunity to strengthen their local economy.”
