Misplaced Pages

#805194

93-575: The project faced opposition from environmental groups and senator Harry Reid , but was supported by Nevada governor Jim Gibbons , the Ely Shoshone Tribe , and some Ely city officials. The project was postponed for three and a half years in November 2007, due to delays from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in issuing an environmental impact statement (EIS). In February 2009, the project

186-501: A Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University , Reid began his public career as the city attorney for Henderson, Nevada , before being elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1968. Gubernatorial candidate Mike O'Callaghan , Reid's former boxing coach, chose Reid as his running mate in 1970 ; following their victory Reid served as the 25th lieutenant governor of Nevada from 1971 to 1975. After being defeated in races for

279-685: A National Historic Landmark . The nomination was approved by the National Park Service on September 27, 2006. The remainder of the Nevada Northern has largely been moribund since 1983. In 1987, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power purchased the Cobre-East Ely line, in anticipation of the construction of a coal-fired generating plant along the route, which was never constructed. Meanwhile,

372-586: A $ 3.8 billion budget to rebuild 100 miles of the railway so it could connect with an existing Union Pacific rail line. LS Power, which also helped cover the cost to purchase the railway, also planned to use it for transporting coal to its White Pine Energy Station. By April 2007, analysts believed that only one coal plant would be built in White Pine County, with the Ely Energy Center being considered as more likely to proceed. In June 2007,

465-408: A $ 30 billion planned golf course development, Coyote Springs , a project heavily criticized by environmental groups for reasons including its projected effects on several endangered species. Whittemore served a two-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2013 of funneling $ 133,400 in illegal contributions to Reid's reelection campaign. Reid scored a lifetime conservative rating of 19% from

558-687: A 60-vote bar for passage of bills without a Democratic filibuster . Conservatives criticized Reid for his extensive use of the procedural tactic known as " Filling the tree " to prevent amendments on important bills. In 2007, while he was the Senate Majority Leader, Reid initiated the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program to study unidentified flying objects at the urging of Reid's friend, Nevada billionaire and governmental contractor Robert Bigelow , and with support from

651-402: A company he claimed manufactured the device, alleging the device was defective. In 2019, a jury rejected his claim for lack of evidence. On May 14, 2018, Reid had surgery for pancreatic cancer at Johns Hopkins Cancer Center after a tumor was found on his pancreas during a routine screening. In a January 2019 interview with The New York Times , it was revealed that he was confined to

744-418: A complete review of project and study other possible power alternatives. Nevada Power suggested waiting until 2010 to do a full study, as new laws regarding carbon dioxide pollution were expected to be enacted by then. In November 2008, Reid requested that Gibbons "join with me in putting Nevada quickly on a cleaner plat toward a renewable energy and efficiency driven economy and safer future." In December 2008,

837-399: A desk at his home and was unable to move without the aid of a walker. Upon his diagnosis, he said: "As soon as you discover you have something on your pancreas, you're dead." On February 25, 2019, he announced that due to early detection and chemotherapy , his cancer was in remission. Nevada Northern Railway The Nevada Northern Railway ( reporting mark NN ) was a railroad in

930-428: A few years after the first one. Both units, to be built at a total cost of $ 3 billion, were to utilize water-conserving technology and "supercritical" technology capable of burning coal efficiently at high temperatures. The company would also use clean coal technology as a way of minimizing environmental effects, while hybrid cooling would be used to reduce the amount of water required to keep the plants cool. Additionally,

1023-541: A long-term customer of LS Power's White Pine Energy Station (also proposed for the Steptoe Valley) and Sithe Global's Toquop Energy Project (proposed near Mesquite, Nevada ) as bond rating agencies perceive long-term power contracts to be a liability for utility companies, while company-owned plants are treated as assets. Sierra Pacific Resources planned to finance the project through stocks and bonds. Construction

SECTION 10

#1732787694806

1116-592: A man and a woman", but abandoned that position in favor of same-sex marriage in 2012. In regard to local issues, Reid firmly opposed construction of the proposed Yucca Mountain federal nuclear waste repository in Nevada. Reid initially opposed the legalization of online poker , but in 2010 it was reported his position had evolved – a move some argued was influenced by "the hundreds of thousands of dollars Las Vegas casinos contributed to his re-election campaign ". Reid called immigration reform one of his priorities at

1209-465: A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . On January 1, 2015, Reid was injured while exercising in his home—he said a piece of equipment he was using broke (later "slipped"), causing him to fall. As a result, he suffered broken ribs and broken facial bones, and was at risk of permanent vision loss in his right eye. On January 26, 2015, he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his right eye and repair facial bones. He later sued

1302-532: A net worth of between $ 2.9 million and $ 9.3 million. Most of Reid's net worth was in municipal securities and in land and mineral rights in southern Nevada and Arizona; a blind trust managed the liquid assets of Reid and his wife. Reid lived in the Anthem area of Henderson, Nevada . Reid (who was raised agnostic ) and his wife (who was born to Jewish immigrant parents and grew up in Henderson) converted to

1395-610: A police officer for the United States Capitol Police , and he earned his Juris Doctor in 1964. Reid returned to Nevada after law school and served as Henderson city attorney before being elected to the Nevada Assembly for the multi-member fourth district of Clark County in 1968. In 1970, at age 30, Reid was chosen by O'Callaghan as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada . Reid and O'Callaghan won their respective races, and Reid served as lieutenant governor from 1971 until 1974, when he ran for

1488-484: A polished figure in Washington. That is not Harry Reid." Reid was known for his skills in political organizing and getting out the vote , and his voter coalition known as the "Reid Machine" was credited with being the driving force behind several statewide Democratic wins, including Hillary Clinton in the 2016 United States presidential election in Nevada and Catherine Cortez Masto 's election to succeed Reid in

1581-494: A restricted right to abortion, stating that "abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered ". He voted several times to ban the intact dilation and evacuation , or "partial-birth abortion" procedure. Reid supported embryonic stem cell research . Over the time, Reid shifted his support towards more progressive views. Regarding same-sex marriage , Reid initially believed that "marriage should be between

1674-615: A speech at Brigham Young University to about 4,000 students on October 9, 2007, in which he expressed his opinion that Democratic values mirror Mormon values. Several Republican Mormons in Utah contested his faith because of his politics, such as his statements that the church's backing of California's Proposition 8 wasted resources. Reid was the co-chairman of the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service . In April 2015, Reid confirmed former U.S. Senator Larry Pressler as

1767-682: A spokesman for the companies said they did not expect to receive opposition from the National Park Service , which had recently voiced opposition to the White Pine Energy Station for its possible environmental effects on the nearby Great Basin National Park . David Sims, project director of development for the Ely Energy Center, said the project would use superior air quality controls that would result in significantly lower sulfur dioxide emissions compared to

1860-427: A video to his YouTube account announcing that he would not seek reelection in November 2016. Reid endorsed Senator Chuck Schumer from New York to succeed him as Minority Leader. Former Nevada Attorney General and fellow Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto was elected to succeed Reid as a U.S. senator from Nevada. On January 1, 2017, two days before the end of his term, Reid surpassed Senator John P. Jones to become

1953-517: A year later, its completion marked by a two-day celebration in Ely. The railroad's symbolic final spike—made of local copper—was driven by Requa in Ely on September 29, 1906, which was designated as Railroad Day. To celebrate the new railway, a ball was held inside the Northern building, which was still under construction at the time. Additional Ely-area trackage was constructed in 1907-1908 to serve

SECTION 20

#1732787694806

2046-468: Is Nevada's longest-serving senator, surpassing John P. Jones 's record by two days. Reid was succeeded as the Senate Democratic leader by Chuck Schumer , whose leadership bid had been endorsed by Reid. Along with Alben W. Barkley and Mike Mansfield , Reid was one of only three senators to have served at least eight years as majority leader. Harry Reid International Airport , which serves

2139-492: Is going on" and stated that "hundreds and hundreds of papers" have been available since the program was completed and that "Most all of it, 80 percent at least, is public" adding "I wanted it public, it was made public, and you guys have not even looked at it." A 2009 letter by Reid was published by KLAS-TV investigative journalists George Knapp and Matt Adams, where the Senator states that AATIP has made "much progress" with

2232-480: The Los Angeles Times suggested that Reid had introduced legislation and imposed pressure on regulatory agencies to advance the business interests of his close friend Harvey Whittemore , a Nevada attorney-lobbyist who contributed heavily to Reid's campaigns and leadership fund and who employed Reid's son Leif as his personal attorney. With Reid's help, Whittemore was able to proceed with construction of

2325-598: The 111th Congress , Reid shepherded the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) through the Senate. Reid was initially a centrist Democrat, and he held anti-abortion views and supported gun rights and opposed illegal immigration . He was considered fiscally liberal and socially conservative. He believed that Roe v. Wade should be overturned, and in 1999, voted against an amendment that supported Roe . In 1998, he stated that he believed in

2418-693: The American Conservative Union (ACU), and a 2008 liberal rating of 70% from the Americans for Democratic Action (ADA). Other independent ratings include a 29% rating in 2003 from NARAL , the abortion rights lobbyists , an 85% rating from Planned Parenthood in 2013, and a "B" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund . Reid spearheaded several initiatives while in Congress. In 2006, Reid co-sponsored

2511-583: The Colorado River , among other projects, "incredibly good news for Nevada" in a news release after the passage of the 2006 transportation bill. He owned 160 acres (65 ha) of land several miles from the proposed bridge site in Arizona. The bridge could add value to his real estate investment. A year later it was reported that Reid had used campaign donations to pay for $ 3,300 in Christmas gifts to

2604-512: The John McCain campaign in 2008, when he was being vetted for the vice-presidential nomination. McCain said, "[n]othing in these tax returns showed that he did not pay taxes." In a 2015 interview on the subject, Reid said "Romney didn't win, did he?" The following year, Reid called the attack "one of the best things I've ever done," while reiterating that Romney had not released his tax returns. In 2021, Reid stated in an interview that after

2697-543: The Las Vegas Valley , was named after Reid on December 14, 2021, two weeks before his death from cancer. The airport was previously named after Pat McCarran , one of Reid's Senate predecessors. Harry Mason Reid Jr. was born on December 2, 1939, in Searchlight, Nevada , the third of four sons of Harry Reid, a rock miner, and Inez Orena (Jaynes) Reid, a laundress for local brothels. At that time, Searchlight

2790-467: The Senate Democratic majority controversially invoked the " nuclear option " to eliminate the 60-vote requirement to end a filibuster for presidential nominations , other than nominations to the U.S. Supreme Court . Republicans took control of the Senate following the 2014 United States Senate elections , and Reid served as Senate Minority Leader from 2015 until his retirement in 2017. Reid

2883-627: The U.S. Supreme Court . A 3/5 supermajority was still required to end filibusters unrelated to those nominees, such as for legislation and Supreme Court nominees. The Democrats' stated motivation for the " nuclear option " was expansion of filibustering by Republicans during the Obama administration , in particular blocking three nominations to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit . Reid's invocation of

Ely Energy Center - Misplaced Pages Continue

2976-612: The U.S. state of Nevada , built primarily to reach a major copper producing area in White Pine County, Nevada . The railway, constructed in 1905–06, extended northward about 140 miles (230 km) from Ely to connections with the Western Pacific Railroad at Shafter and Southern Pacific Railroad at Cobre . In 1967 NN reported 40 million net ton-miles of revenue freight on 162 miles (261 km) of line. The Nevada Northern owes its beginnings to

3069-604: The United States House of Representatives , but population growth in the 1970s resulted in the state picking up a second district. Reid won the Democratic nomination for the 1st district , based in Las Vegas, in 1982, and easily won the general election. He was re-elected in 1984 . Reid was instrumental in the establishment of Great Basin National Park , sponsoring the bill creating it in 1986 and ensuring

3162-500: The concurrent Senate election . A veteran of the Reid political machine, Megan K. Jones , has gone on to be a senior advisor to Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris . Harry Reid (formerly McCarran) International Airport , which serves the Las Vegas Valley , was named after Senator Reid on December 14, 2021, just two weeks prior to his death. Reid met his wife, Landra Gould, in high school. Gould

3255-481: The longest-serving U.S. Senator from Nevada . From 1999 to 2005, Reid served as Senate Democratic Whip , as minority whip from 1999 to 2001, and again from 2003 to 2005. Reid was majority whip from 2001 to 2003, except for a brief period from January to June 2001. He was the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee in from January to June 2001 (succeeding Max Baucus ) before relinquishing

3348-468: The "identification of several highly sensitive, unconventional aerospace-related findings" that will "likely lead to technology advancements" and recommends the creation of a special access program for specific parts of AATIP. On November 21, 2013, under Reid's tenure as Majority Leader, the Democratic majority Senate voted 52–48 to eliminate the 60-vote requirement to end a filibuster against all executive branch nominees and judicial nominees other than to

3441-485: The 110th Congress. He supported the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), which would give certain high school graduates who had arrived in the U.S. illegally, conditional legal status so they could attend college or enlist in the military. They could then obtain permanent legal residency after completing two years of military service or two years of college. Reid supported use of force in

3534-495: The 1990s saw a brief resumption of copper mining near Ruth, this time by BHP . This project saw the construction of additional trackage near Ruth, and the resumption of service from there as far as Shafter by the BHP Nevada Railroad in 1996. Both the mine and railroad shut down again in 1999, and when mining resumed in 2004 concentrates were hauled by truck rather than by rail. The disused line between Ely and Cobre

3627-605: The 2007 documentary film Sand and Sorrow , which details the genocide in Sudan . Reid was elected to the Gaming Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2013, adviser Jim Margolis said of Reid, "He is unique in this city. And you see it in so many different ways. Is he the best TV talking head? No. He'd be the first to tell you that. Should he smile more? Yes. Should he say goodbye on the phone when he's done talking to you? Probably. But those are things you'd assume are part and parcel of

3720-541: The 2012 election he and Mitt Romney and their wives met privately and reconciled, with Reid concluding that "I admire Mitt Romney. I think he's a very very fine human being." Part of Reid's confrontation with Frank Rosenthal while chair of the Nevada Gaming Commission is reenacted in the 1995 movie Casino . Reid had a role in the movie Traffic (2000), in which he played himself. He appeared, with Senators Sam Brownback and Barack Obama , in

3813-539: The BLM issued a draft EIS for the project, while NV Energy suspected that a final decision from the BLM was another year away. The project was also still awaiting a final air permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. The first power unit was expected to become operational by 2015, followed by the second unit a year later. On February 3, 2009, NV Energy chief executive officer Michael Yackira said

Ely Energy Center - Misplaced Pages Continue

3906-528: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while he was a college student. In a 2001 interview he said, "I think it is much easier to be a good member of the Church and a Democrat than a good member of the Church and a Republican." He went on to say that the Democrats' emphasis on helping others, as opposed to what he considered Republican dogma to the contrary, is the reason he was a Democrat. He delivered

3999-514: The Democratic nomination with 75% of the vote in the June 8 primary. He then faced a very competitive race for the U.S. Senate in Nevada in the 2010 general election . Reid engaged in a $ 1 million media campaign to "reintroduce himself" to the state's voters. He defeated Republican challenger Sharron Angle in the November election, 50.3% to 44.6%. In January 2015, Reid suffered severe injuries in an exercise accident. On March 27, 2015, Reid uploaded

4092-546: The Ely Energy Center for a year to conduct further research, as the current version of the plant would produce large amounts of carbon dioxide . In November 2006, the Public Utilities Commission gave the companies permission to spend $ 300 million to begin developing the transmission line and the $ 3.7 billion Ely Energy Center. Nevada Power Company was to pay 80 percent of the cost for the 1,500-megawatt energy center, while Sierra Pacific Resources would pay

4185-727: The Middle East, but in September 2007, called for a drastic change in strategy. In January 1991, Reid voted to authorize the first Gulf War , quoting John F. Kennedy 's 1963 State of the Union speech on the Senate floor, saying "the mere absence of war is not peace." He also voted in support of the 2003 invasion of Iraq . In March 2007, he voted in favor of "redeploying U.S. troops out of Iraq by March 2008", and later that year, said, "As long as we follow [President Bush's] path in Iraq,

4278-426: The Nevada Northern by far, hosting dozens of loaded and empty ore trains daily. As a subsidiary of Nevada Consolidated, the primary purpose of the Nevada Northern throughout its history was the haulage of copper ores and products. Other freight traffic was also carried, and the railroad operated a daily passenger train between East Ely and Cobre until 1941. Local trains were also operated from Ely to Ruth and McGill for

4371-650: The Prevention First Amendment with Hillary Clinton , which would fund abortion prevention efforts such as giving women broader access to contraception. The bill faced Republican opposition and failed. In January 2007, Reid brought a Senate ethics reform bill to a vote to bar congressional members from accepting gifts, meals, and trips from lobbyists and organizations employing lobbyists, to bar Senators from borrowing corporate jets for travel, and to compel Senators to disclose names of sponsors, or authors, of bills and projects. The bill passed 96–2. In

4464-484: The Public Utilities Commission staff and the attorney general's Bureau of Consumer Protection, recommended that Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Resources end development of the project, which had increased in cost from $ 3.8 billion to $ 5 billion. In September 2008, the attorney general and Nevadans for a Clean, Affordable, Reliable Energy, an environmental group, believed that Nevada Power should do

4557-481: The Senate Republicans had previously refused to take up Merrick Garland 's nomination by President Obama in 2016. Reid was criticized during his tenure for several potentially self-enriching tactics. In 2005, Reid earmarked a spending bill to provide for building a bridge between Nevada and Arizona that would make land he owned more valuable. Reid called funding for the construction of a bridge over

4650-678: The Senate after the 2006 United States Senate elections , and Reid became the Senate Majority Leader in 2007. He held that position for the final two years of George W. Bush 's presidency and for the first six years of Barack Obama 's presidency. As majority leader, Reid helped pass major legislation of the Obama administration , such as the Affordable Care Act , the Dodd–Frank Act , and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 . In 2013, under Reid's leadership,

4743-596: The U.S. Senate seat that was being vacated by Alan Bible . He lost by fewer than 700 votes to former governor Paul Laxalt . In 1975, Reid ran for mayor of Las Vegas and lost to Bill Briare . Reid served as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission from 1977 to 1981. When Jack Gordon offered Reid a $ 12,000 bribe to get approval of new games for casinos, Reid brought in the FBI to tape Gordon's bribery attempt and arrest him. After FBI agents interrupted

SECTION 50

#1732787694806

4836-553: The United States Senate and mayor of Las Vegas , Reid served as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission from 1977 to 1981. From 1983 to 1987, Reid represented Nevada's 1st district in the United States House of Representatives . Reid was elected to the United States Senate in 1986 and served in the Senate from 1987 to 2017. He served as the Senate Democratic whip from 1999 to 2005 before succeeding Tom Daschle as Senate Minority Leader. The Democrats won control of

4929-488: The White Pine County Commission on March 8, 2006. In May 2006, LS Power stated that consumers of electrical power in Nevada would save $ 600 million over a three-year period if Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power would purchase power from the White Pine Energy Station rather than building their own coal plant. In September 2006, environmental groups testified that the companies should delay

5022-529: The White Pine Energy Station. In July 2007, Harry Reid said he would fight the development of the two coal projects. Ely city officials expressed disappointment with Reid's position. Nevada governor Jim Gibbons , a supporter of the two coal plants, reaffirmed his support for the projects after Reid's comment. At the end of the month, seven groups submitted a petition to the Nevada Environmental Commission requesting that permits for

5115-421: The accusation on the Senate floor on August 2, 2012. According to CBS News , Romney stated, "Let me also say, categorically, I have paid taxes every year – and a lot of taxes. So Harry is simply wrong." PolitiFact.com 's Truth-O-Meter rated the accusation as "Pants on Fire!" The Washington Post ' s Fact Checker gave it "Four Pinnocchios". CBS reported that Romney had submitted 23 years of tax returns to

5208-515: The aftermath of publicity surrounding the AATIP, Reid expressed pride in his accomplishment, and was quoted as saying "I think it's one of the good things I did in my congressional service. I've done something that no one has done before." Reid explained the reasoning behind his sponsorship of the program by saying "I'm interested in science, and in helping the American public understand what the hell

5301-666: The benefit of mine employees and others until the 1930s, and special school trains carried students to White Pine High School in central Ely. A series of corporate financial transactions in the 1920s and 1930s brought Nevada Consolidated under the control of the Kennecott Copper Corporation , and Nevada Consolidated was merged into Kennecott in 1942. The Nevada Northern thus became a Kennecott subsidiary. Faced with declining ore reserves and low copper prices, Kennecott closed its Ruth-area mines in May 1978, thus ending

5394-584: The coal plants were built. Harry Reid Harry Mason Reid Jr. ( / r iː d / ; December 2, 1939 – December 28, 2021) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from Nevada from 1987 to 2017. He led the Senate Democratic Caucus from 2005 to 2017 and was the Senate Majority Leader from 2007 to 2015. After earning an undergraduate degree from Utah State University and

5487-409: The company had plans to ultimately build two 500-megawatt coal gasification plants at the Ely Energy Center, as soon as such technology became commercially viable. The gasification plants would cost $ 2 billion to construct. The four plants would be capable of producing up to 2,500 megawatts, enough to provide electricity to 1.7 million households. Sierra Pacific Resources had previously declined to be

5580-708: The conference. In 2015, Reid received a lifetime achievement award from the League of Conservation Voters , and the following year he was honored by the Conservation Lands Foundation for "historic contributions to conservation." During the summer of 2012, Reid said in an interview with The Huffington Post that he had received information from an unidentified investor in Bain Capital that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney did not pay any taxes for 10 years. He repeated

5673-462: The delay to the BLM, which had yet to issue an environmental impact statement (EIS). The BLM had expected to issue the EIS by summer 2008, but no longer expected to meet the deadline as it was also busy reviewing other projects. The company no longer expected to complete the first 750-megawatt unit by 2011, and did not set a new deadline for its completion. Reid praised the decision to delay construction of

SECTION 60

#1732787694806

5766-792: The designation of about 5.1 million acres (21,000 km ) of U.S. federal land in Nevada as protected land, shielding them from development. Among these were the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument , the Basin and Range National Monument , and the Gold Butte National Monument . Reid was also the champion of the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, 1998 legislation that has redirected more than $ 4 billion in proceeds from

5859-604: The discovery and development of large porphyry copper deposits near Ely early in the 20th century. Two of the region's largest mines (including the Robinson Mine ) were purchased in 1902 by Mark Requa , president of the Eureka & Palisade Railroad in central Nevada. Requa then organized the White Pine Copper Company to develop his new properties, and it soon became evident that rail access to

5952-638: The isolated region would be essential to fully exploit the potential of the mines. Subsequent surveys indicated that the most practical route for such a railroad was northward from Ely, connecting with the Southern Pacific somewhere in the vicinity of Wells . The Ely-area copper properties were further merged in 1904, forming the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company, and the Nevada Northern Railway

6045-403: The largest power plant in the state, and the largest energy project in the state since the construction of Hoover Dam . The first power unit, capable of producing 750 megawatts, was to be operational by 2011. A 250-mile transmission line would accompany the energy center, to bring electricity from the plant to northern and southern Nevada . A second 750-megawatt plant would be completed within

6138-489: The late senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). The program began in the DIA in 2007 and was budgeted $ 22 million over its five years of operation. The United States Air Force facility Homey Airport, commonly known as Area 51, is located on Groom Lake in Reid's home state of Nevada, and has been rumored to house materials allegedly retrieved from the 1947 Roswell UFO incident. When interviewed in

6231-456: The local mining industry. This trackage, known as the "Ore Line," included a route bypassing Ely to the north and continuing west up Robinson Canyon to the copper mines at Ruth . East of Ely, the Ore Line project saw the construction of the "Hiline," a branch leading to Nevada Consolidated's new copper smelter and concentrator at McGill . The Ore Line immediately became the busiest segment of

6324-418: The midst of a statewide Republican sweep. In 2004 , Reid won reelection with 61 percent of the vote, defeating Richard Ziser . Ensign was elected to Nevada's other Senate seat in 2000. Ensign and Reid had a very good relationship despite their bitter contest in 1998. The two frequently worked together on Nevada issues until Ensign resigned his Senate seat in 2011 due to an ethics scandal. In 2010, Reid won

6417-399: The nuclear option on judicial nominations was controversial as, on April 6, 2017, Senate Republicans similarly invoked the nuclear option to remove the Supreme Court exception created in 2013, allowing the Trump administration to appoint Justices on party lines. This was after Senate Democrats filibustered the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court of the United States and after

6510-410: The ore trains between Ruth and the McGill smelter. The smelter closed on June 20, 1983, and the Nevada Northern suspended all operations immediately thereafter. In a series of donations beginning in 1986, Kennecott transferred the entire Ore Line, as well as the railroad's yard and shop facilities in East Ely, to the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation, a non-profit organization that today operates

6603-406: The parent company of Nevada Power Company – announced plans to construct the Ely Energy Center, a $ 5 billion coal plant, in White Pine County 's Steptoe Valley , north of the city of Ely . The project was to be built on land that was controlled by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The project was part of the company's plan to lower its reliance on natural gas . The Ely Energy Center would be

6696-619: The position to allow Jim Jeffords to switch parties and become chair, having given Democrats the majority. From 2001 to 2003, he served as chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee . Reid succeeded Tom Daschle as Minority Leader in 2005; he became Majority Leader after the 2006 election until 2015. He was again Minority Leader until his retirement in 2017 and was succeeded by Chuck Schumer . Liberal critics argued that Reid allowed Senate Republicans to create

6789-506: The project "is going to be very difficult to build." On February 9, 2009, NV Energy announced that the project would be postponed for approximately 10 years, until the technology to capture and store carbon dioxide pollution would become commercially feasible. Yackira said the decision was due to rising construction costs and the possibility of the United States Congress enacting carbon emission tax laws, which would increase

6882-598: The project for two years. In May 2008, the National Parks Conservation Association stated that the two coal plants would cause Great Basin National Park to suffer from acid rain pollution over time, ultimately harming the park's plants, fish, and other wildlife. The association also stated that the coal plants would affect air quality at the nearby Zion National Park in Utah. In August 2008, analysts for an environmental group, as well as

6975-684: The project's cost and make it unfeasible. The company planned to continue building the One Nevada transmission line , which was expected to be operational by late 2012 but became operational in 2014. Reid said, "I applaud NV Energy's decision to speed up the development of an important transmission line and to postpone construction of its Ely Energy Center coal plant." A July 2009 report from the Government Accountability Office confirmed that air quality and visibility at Great Basin National Park would be affected if either of

7068-444: The project. In January 2008, the National Park Service stated that plans to build the energy center near Ely were "unacceptable" as it would harm the quality of the air and water at Great Basin National Park, as well as disrupt scenic views. That month, the Ely Shoshone Tribe announced support for both coal plants, considering them to be an economic necessity. In February 2008, the companies were expected to delay their application for

7161-572: The property as the Nevada Northern Railway Museum which operates a heritage railroad on this part of the former NN. Passenger excursion train service is offered between Ely, Ruth, and McGill using period equipment pulled by historic steam and diesel locomotives. In April 2006, Nevada's National Historic Landmarks Committee granted unanimous support to nominating the Nevada Northern's East Ely shops complex as

7254-463: The protection of Wheeler Peak and groves of bristlecone pine . In 1986 , Reid won the Democratic nomination for the seat of retiring two-term incumbent Republican Senator Paul Laxalt . Reid defeated former at-large U.S. Representative Jim Santini , a Democrat who had turned Republican, in the November election. Reid ran for reelection in 1992 which he won by a double-digit margin. In 1998 he narrowly defeated U.S. Representative John Ensign in

7347-521: The remainder. Later that month, the companies applied for an air permit with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. In March 2007, Sierra Pacific Resources agreed to help the city of Ely purchase the Nevada Northern Railway by providing a $ 375,000 loan. The company intended to use the railroad to transport coal to the energy center from Montana and from Wyoming's Powder River Basin . The company planned to spend $ 40 million of

7440-550: The sale of public lands in Nevada to conservation initiatives, environmentally sensitive land acquisitions, new parks and trails, and capital projects for federal land management agencies. Reid was criticized as one of the main culprits for the failure of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference , as the Democrats ' majority in Congress during that time had not been used to enact climate-protection legislation prior to

7533-516: The staff at the condominium where he resided; federal election law prohibits candidates from using political donations for personal use. Reid's staff stated that his campaign attorneys had approved this use of the funds, but that Reid would personally reimburse his campaign for the expenses. Citizens United filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission to investigate the matter. A series of investigative reports in

7626-596: The transaction, as prearranged, Reid lost his temper and attempted to choke Gordon, saying "You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!" before agents stopped him. Gordon was convicted in 1979 and sentenced to six months in prison. Reid presided over the 1979 hearing that refused to issue a gaming license to casino operator Frank Rosenthal because of his ties to organized crime groups such as the Chicago Outfit and particularly his close personal association with mobster Anthony Spilotro . Reid later stated that "Rosenthal

7719-492: The two coal plants be delayed until the commission enacted new limits on the amount of pollution allowed by such plants. A hearing on the matter was set for September 7, 2007. On November 28, 2007, Nevada Power announced that the project would be delayed for three and a half years because of regulatory review, while Sierra Pacific Resources planned to build a new natural gas-fired power plant near Las Vegas to keep up with demand in southern Nevada. Sierra Pacific Resources attributed

7812-601: The war is lost." Reid was a strong advocate of recognizing the Armenian genocide . Reid was a staunch defender of Obamacare both online and in speeches. He advocated outlawing prostitution in Nevada . On May 15, 2013, Reid revealed to reporters that his niece is a lesbian as he spoke about his hope that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act would be signed into law. Reid supported land conservation in Nevada. He successfully secured

7905-527: Was a small, impoverished town. His father died of suicide in 1972, at the age of 58, when Harry was 32 years old. His paternal grandmother was an English immigrant from Darlaston, Staffordshire . Reid's boyhood home was a shack with no indoor toilet, hot water or telephone. Since Searchlight had no high school, Reid boarded with relatives 40 miles (64 km) away, in Henderson , so that he could attend Basic High School , where he played football and

7998-619: Was acquired by the city of Ely in 2006. Plans near 2008 by Sierra Pacific Resources for the construction of the Ely Energy Center , a 2,500 megawatt coal-fired generating plant in the Ely vicinity raised the possibility that the railroad may have seen another revival, carrying inbound loads of coal to White Pine County. Since then those plans have stalled; however, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum and Ely have considered other options to possibly restore

8091-478: Was an amateur boxer . While at Basic High, he met future Nevada governor Mike O'Callaghan , who was a teacher there and served as Reid's boxing coach. Reid attended Southern Utah University and graduated from Utah State University in 1961, where he double-majored in political science and history. He also minored in economics at Utah State's School of Commerce and Business Administration . He then attended George Washington University Law School while working as

8184-458: Was delayed for approximately 10 years, until the technology to capture and store carbon dioxide pollution would become commercially feasible. The decision was made due to the possibility of the United States Congress enacting carbon emission tax laws, which would increase the project's cost and make it unfeasible. Rising construction costs were also a factor in delaying the project. On January 10, 2006, utility company Sierra Pacific Resources –

8277-403: Was expected to begin in 2007. The project would provide up to 2,000 construction jobs, and 300 permanent jobs upon completion. Sierra Pacific Resources stated that the project could make the company an additional $ 90 million in its first year. Officials of Utah's Hill Air Force Base had concerns that the coal plant could interfere with training flights in the Ely area. The project was presented to

8370-603: Was from a Jewish family and her parents objected to the relationship because Reid was not Jewish. The two eloped in 1959 when they were in college. The Reids had five children; a daughter and four sons. Their eldest son, Rory , was an elected commissioner for Clark County, Nevada , of which he became chairman, and 2010 Democratic nominee in the election for Governor of Nevada . Another son, Josh Reid, unsuccessfully sought municipal office in Cottonwood Heights, Utah . In 2014 financial disclosure reports, Reid reported

8463-551: Was incorporated on June 1, 1905, to build a line connecting the Nevada Consolidated mines and smelter to the national rail network. The task of building the new railroad was contracted to the Utah Construction Company , which began work on September 11, 1905. Construction began at Cobre , where the Nevada Northern connected with the Southern Pacific and proceeded southward. The line was finished

8556-441: Was the only person that I was ever afraid of." Rosenthal loudly and publicly confronted Reid after the hearing, telling gathered reporters that he had performed many personal favors for Reid. Reid conceded under heated interrogation from Rosenthal that the two men had met for lunch at his Stardust Resort and Casino and that he had asked Rosenthal to cover up undesirable news stories. FBI wiretaps captured mobsters claiming that Reid

8649-421: Was under their control, causing governor Robert List to feel pressure to ask Reid to resign. However, List believed Reid's assertions that the accusations were baseless. In 1981, Reid's wife found a bomb attached to the family station wagon; Reid suspected it was placed by Rosenthal or Gordon, although this has never been proven in court. Before the 1980 Census , Nevada had only a single at-large member of

#805194