We at Various Things & Stuff have long wondered about why U.S. Sen. Harry Reid has been so vocal about banning coal-fired power plants in Nevada. Reid’s a cagey politician, and it’s not like him to close off his options so completely (he’s declared that a trio of coal plants, one near Mesquite and two near Ely, will not be built).

The theories abound, from Reid building up his environmental credentials to hewing to the lefty wing of the party he heads in the Senate to building up some credibility on energy issues to looking forward to the 2008 election. We still haven’t heard a satisfactory explanation.

(And yes, we’re far to cynical to believe Reid’s own given reason for his stance: his conscience. First, Reid’s had to make compromises before that didn’t bother his conscience. Second, his stance on mining is far too permissive to allow for a green conscience. Coal plants do emit carbon dioxide, but mines emit cyanide and mercury, and Reid protects them!)

While we still don’t have a full explanation, we do have an interesting side note: They’re using Reid’s green stance to raise green cash!

According to a copy of a fundraising letter we obtained when somebody e-mailed it to us, former Vice President Al Gore (winner of both the Oscar and the Nobel Prize) is getting Reid’s back when it comes to green, noting that Reid’s signed the "Live Earth Pledge," which we think has something to do with banning rock concerts.

"Taking this stand wasn’t easy. By making this pledge, Harry Reid stood up to powerful corporations and lobbyists who have a financial interest in continuing to dump greenhouse gases into our atmosphere — and who are willing to spend millions to defeat any politician who dares to oppose them," Gore wrote. (Of course, he meant non-mining powerful corporations and lobbyists. And they’re not so powerful that Reid hasn’t felt perfectly OK thrusting his thumb in their eye.)

Gore goes on to encourage people to sign a petition asking Congress to pass legislation aimed at reversing global warming and … (wait for it) … donate to Friends for Harry Reid! Gore suggests $1,000, $1,500 or even $2,000. You know, to help Reid fend off assaults from "big oil, coal and the auto industries that are sure to come."

What about the mining industry? Gore doesn’t really mention that, although he does note later in the letter that Reid had called out some coal-fired power plants in Nevada, and even quotes Reid on the reasons why. "We need Harry Reid’s style of leadership now more than ever if we are going to solve the climate crisis," Gore ads. "Harry Reid’s bold position should be the rule — not the exception."

Except for Reid’s bold position for the environment goes right out the smog-stained window when it comes to the mining industry, which is also causing environmental harm.

We know that nobody’s perfect, and that there are plenty people who have much worse green voting records than Reid. (Hell, all of the Nevada delegation opposes mining law reform that would impose royalties to raise money to clean up old mines.) But it seems to us that Gore’s praise is a bit selective … just like Reid when it comes to distinguishing between polluters.