Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)

Buffett chuckles

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The cast of characters who want us to vote no on Question 3 is intriguing: teachers, firefighte­rs, environmen­talists, AARP.

AARP sticks its nose into any socialist/progressiv­e issue to keep the annual dues rolling in. The unions are doing mutual back scratching for the electric workers.

A no vote is a green issue. The enviros already own the politician­s. The pols write the legislatio­n to mandate wind and solar energy. Long ago, the Public Utilities Commission guaranteed NV Energy a reasonable rate of return. NV Energy has no incentive to generate or purchase low-cost electricit­y.

Now we get a double whammy. Those boughtand-paid-for politician­s also wrote the legislatio­n that shut down coal-fired generators, which produce the low-cost electricit­y that competes with high-cost wind and solar. Of course, NV Energy is more than happy to comply. It makes the same reasonable profit if building up or tearing down.

Get the picture? Lowcost electricit­y disappears, replaced by high-cost wind and solar. Joe and Sally Sixpack’s electric bill has nowhere to go but up.

So who is the big winner in this charade? NV Energy? What we don’t see or hear is Berkshire Hathaway. Remember, Berkshire Hathaway owns NV Energy. It is controlled by Warren Buffett. Hard to imagine that traditiona­l left-wing groups are spending their time, money and efforts to enrich Mr. Buffett. He is laughing all the way to the bank. Curtis F. Clark Boulder City

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