A measure dealing with Nevada's energy policies and the development of renewable energy resources have been proposed by state Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas.
SB114 requires the governor's energy director to work with the Desert Research Institute to better determine how much energy Nevada needs and how best to fill those needs with renewable resources.
The legislation also expands homeowners' rights to use systems for solar and wind energy by prohibiting property covenants that unreasonably restrict a solar or wind system.
The bill also charges the energy office with reviewing policies dealing with the state's geothermal resources and making recommendations on how best to develop those resources.
In a related development, Gov. Jim Gibbons plans to form a nonprofit corporation to sell billions of dollars worth of bonds in order to build power transmission lines throughout Nevada to bolster the development of renewable energy projects.
The plan, which still requires federal legislation, is the first directed at constructing a grid that would connect solar fields, geothermal plants and wind farms to existing power centers.
"This is how to finance transmission lines without taxpayer money and with the lowest cost to end users," said Mendy Elliott, Gibbons' deputy chief of staff.
