LETTERS: Solar can’t exist without NV Energy

To the editor:

Regarding Scott Hippert’s letter (“Solar owners lose on net-metering bill,” June 4 Review-Journal), he states that net metering is being unjustly treated and lacks financial equilibrium. The excess power generation these rooftop solar systems produce, his included, isn’t being recompensed fairly.

What Mr. Hippert doesn’t acknowledge is that residential solar is a failure — it’s not financially viable without access to the grid built by NV Energy and ultimately paid for by its clients. If residential solar were required to be entirely off the grid, then with or without government subsidies, it would cease to exist on any significant scale.

Anyone who looks at the underlying financials understands that without the federal and local tax and energy credits, residential solar would not be viable. Eliminating these credits will force residential solar purveyors to be more financially resourceful and will drive the cost down. Pawning off the solar cap issue to the Public Utilities Commission and/or other agencies seems to be a politically expedient solution, but not necessarily a good alternative.

Wait and see. The purported 6,000 jobs said to be created by solar installations here are mostly temporary, a brief moment in time. Consumers do not fully appreciate the pitfalls of residential solar. By leasing a system for 30 years, will the lessor be around to fulfill the contract terms? If the homeowner sells his home, then he must get the buyer to assume the lease and the lessor to approve.

But what happens if NV Energy begins delivering power at a lower cost than today’s solar guarantee? What if solar energy purveyors could do the same? What if the homeowner with solar on the roof needs a whole new roof? The “what ifs” are legion. Today, the best way to access solar is via large-scale implementation by NV Energy and other grid-based suppliers. Financial subsidies should only be applied to research and large-scale solar suppliers. When this is done, everyone benefits.

RICHARD RYCHTARIK

LAS VEGAS

Promoting common good

To the editor:

Gov. Brian Sandoval’s recent success in helping pass the largest tax increase ever makes him the Richard Nixon of Nevada politics. President Nixon was known as a strong opponent of Communism, yet surprisingly, it was his administration that opened up China with his visit to Chairman Mao. Gov. Sandoval amazingly was able to get a business tax increase passed, something previous governors had failed to accomplish.

In the case of both President Nixon and Gov. Sandoval, it was a Republican administration that broke the political logjam, rather than the Democrats. Is this a foreboding of what a future Republican presidential administration might achieve in actually passing comprehensive immigration reform? Who knows, but surprising things can come from Republicans when they meet the Democrats halfway on legislation to promote the common good.

DOUGLAS BELL

LAS VEGAS

Lake Mead’s future

To the editor:

First I laughed, and then I just shook my head after reading the article on the seven-year project building a tunnel under Lake Mead for $817 million, and now the preparations to spend another $650 million for a pumping station at the lake. This, in order to be able to extract water from the lake when it falls below 1,000 feet.

In other words, instead of spending $1.5 billion building a pipeline from another water source to refill the lake to its capacity, which is what Las Vegas really needs, we decided to build a system designed to completely empty the lake if necessary. I just moved here last August, and all I can say is, God help us.

JAMES HAMILTON MOORE

LAS VEGAS

Bankrupting education

To the editor:

Regarding Dave Mesker’s letter (“Legislature renders voters meaningless,” June 10 Review-Journal), it’s hard to imagine that anyone would want to bankrupt education. So I’m glad Mr. Mesker won’t be voting any more. It’s a big relief.

LARRY KLAR

HENDERSON

School bus security

To the editor:

A Clark County School District bus driver was recently arrested for abusing very young, special needs children, and a subsequent report included the suggestion to add more cameras to buses (“CCSD cameras nabbed suspect,” June 10 Review-Journal).

Here’s another solution that works: In the St. Paul, Minn., school district, a teacher’s aide accompanies all special needs children whenever they are on a school bus. That gives children the protection — and a witness — that they need.

NORMAN C. YEAGER

HENDERSON

Getting over transgender

To the editor:

As a casual observer of the transgender scene, it’s obvious that these people don’t wake up one morning and say, “I’m going to become a man or a woman.” They probably have been through an emotional wringer for years.

This is something they have to do. It doesn’t affect me. It is not going to destroy civilization as we know it. It does give conservative talk-show hosts something to lick their chops over. They love it. To those who are up in arms over the minority of people who are transgender, I say get over it.

JERRY GORDON

HENDERSON