This is Joerg Arnu, Owner of DreamlandResort.com, as well as the official Rachel web site at Rachel-Nevada.com. I was asked to take a look at this
thread, and after doing so, I feel that I need to correct a few misconceptions about Rachel and the prison situation. I don't read this board
regularly, so my apologies in advance if I can not reply to follow-up posts in a timely manner. I can be reached at
[email protected]
First, to clarify my credentials, I am a part-time resident of Rachel, with my primary residence and job as a senior software developer in Las Vegas.
I have owned land in Rachel since 2003 and I spend a lot of time there. I believe I know as much about what goes on there as any of the full-time
residents.
Being a customer of the Rachel power co-op since 2003, I know that they are the only power company in town. They buy power from Lincoln Power, manage
its distribution, network infrastructure etc. and sell the power for currently 7.5 c/kWh, which is a great deal compared to the 10.5 c/kWh I am paying
in Vegas. I am not aware of any restrictions for new power hook-ups in Rachel, due to limited line capacity or otherwise.
That said, the Farms, as well as Mr. Toreson (yes, that is the correct spelling) are dealing with Lincoln Power directly. I believe they buy the power
at around 4 c/kWh. While it is correct that he can not build a solar farm because he could not export the generated power throught the existing lines,
there has never been any mention of the lines not being able to supply power for the prison in any of the public meetings and hearings. I think the
County Planning Commission in Pioche would know of such a restriction, if it existed. Yet, it never came up in the meeting there last month.
He has plenty of water rights with his property, I believe the number is 2500 acre feet. More than enough to supply the prison and community he is
looking to build around it. He certainly has enough water rights to farm the land, a total of 1000 acres, if he chose to do so.
Mr. Toreson first approached me with plans to sell off land as residential property in early 2001. As I told him in the public hearing in Rachel on
Sept.6, he could have sold a lot more, and would not have to resort to these desperate measures, if he would offer the land at a fair price. Instead
he is asking $16,500 per acre, which is more than 10 times (!) the going rate for land in Rachel.
All this said, we, the residents of Rachel, feel that this prison would have far to great of an impact on our community to take it lightly. Yes, there
is a good chance that the prison plans will fail, as all the other schemes Mr. Toreson came up with over the years. Including a retirelent community,
mental hospital, hazardous waste disposal plant and who knows what else. So, we treat it as if it is going to happen, and will continue to do our best
to fight this insanity, that 98% of Rachel residents strongly oppose.
Thank you for being concerned enough about this issue to read through my somewhat lengthy post. Those of you who support our cause, your help is much
appreciated by the residents of Rachel.