April 22, 2010

Washington, DC—Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement today in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day:

“The 40th anniversary of Earth Day is an opportunity for all of us to take time to appreciate Nevada’s great outdoors.  I am glad we have been able to make progress in protecting our state’s outdoor spaces.  During my time in Congress, I have worked on a number of environmental initiatives to improve and protect our great state.  Some of these efforts include protecting more than 3 million acres of key wildlife habitat as wilderness, creating Great Basin National Park, and providing more resources and better management for popular areas like Red Rock Canyon and the Black Rock Desert.  Just last year, I was proud to have President Obama sign my legislation to enhance the Carson River corridor, improve management of the Sierra foothills, and expand open space opportunities for the people of Carson City.  

“Right now I am working with Nevada Congressional delegation to increase our nation’s commitment to Lake Tahoe through the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2010.  This legislation will advance ongoing efforts to protect the Tahoe Basin from invasive species and devastating wildfires, while also restoring Lake Tahoe’s water clarity and protecting threatened species and wild lands.  The act will also help protect the area’s economy and its 23,000 tourism-supported jobs.  It is an honor to be leading this fight on behalf of the people of Nevada.

“As we look toward future conservation efforts it is critical that we tailor them more precisely to benefit the economy as well as the environment and to improve our infrastructure and make it more sustainable. Our goal must be to wean our state off of polluting fossil fuels and instead tap into Nevada’s vast supply of clean, renewable energy produced by solar, wind and geothermal resources. This effort will help diversify our state’s economy by supplementing tourism with new clean energy industries and bring stable employment with the right investments.

“On this Earth Day, I encourage all Nevadans to commit to saving money and reducing pollution through greater energy efficiency, creating jobs through renewable energy and energy independence initiatives, and the conservation of our State’s natural resources and incredible landscapes.”