renewable energy

There will be a Sept. 15 public hearing in Carson City on a proposed rate application by Southwest Gas for its customers. The utility proposes to increase the average Northern Nevada residential customer monthly bill an estimated $2.13 during summer and $7.63 in winter.

Researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno are poised to play a key role in a project that holds the potential to unlock massive new resources of power generated from geothermal sources.

A Mound House RV repair outfit, a community agriculture ranch in Washoe Valley and a motel in Fallon are among the recipients of energy grants awarded Tuesday by USDA Rural Development Nevada.

Businesses or government entities along U.S. Route 95 between Las Vegas and Reno have the opportunity to participate in electrifying Nevada’s highways. NV Energy and the Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy are looking for partners in key communities to provide electric vehicle owners the ability to drive and charge their vehicles between Reno and Las Vegas. This effort will include “fast-charge” technology, which is important for long-distance travel.

As part of its cultural commitment to living sustainably with the environment, The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California is boosting its clean-energy capacity with the construction of seven new solar arrays built by Reno nonprofit Black Rock Solar. In addition to the 113 kW of power BRS built for them in 2011, BRS is currently building seven new Carson City area arrays for the tribe.

After announcing last month its plans to decrease rates by 6.1 percent, NV Energy says it wants to adjust consumer rates, provide for refunds from energy efficient revenue collected in 2014 and increase electric rates an estimated 0.82 percent across all rate classes for Northern Nevada customers.

Nevada Senator Harry Reid announced today that Nevada has received $2.1 million in the first phase of a competition to host the Department of Energy’s new Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal laboratory.

The FORGE laboratory, which would be dedicated to research in the next generation of geothermal energy technology, could be located in Fallon, Nev. Subject to any future restrictions in appropriation bills, this laboratory could receive up to $30 million in funding from the Department of Energy and perhaps tens of millions more.

Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2), along with 29 original cosponsors, took steps Wednesday to address the strategic and economic vulnerabilities presented by mineral production, including rare earth elements — an industry dominated by China and other foreign nations.

The introduction of H.R. 1937, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Act of 2015, is intended to address American dependence on foreign minerals and to enable the United States to more efficiently develop its own mineral supplies, upon which, according to a recent 60 Minutes report, “modern U.S. life depends.”

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid on Friday praised Nevada’s role as a leader in renewable energy business development and called for bipartisan support toward continuing that progress in the future ......

If you are a farmer or rancher with irrigation costs that are making you wince, it might be time to consider developing a more energy-efficient system.
Dianne and Lee Hutchens of Central Nevada took the plunge into solar energy using USDA Rural Development's Rural Energy for America grant, and are glad they did. This winter, they have been earning credits from NV Energy; in April they will begin using the credits to power two circle pivots on 160 acres of irrigated pasture.

Small rural businesses, ranchers and farmers can learn how to access grants and loans to finance renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements at a workshop Feb. 6 in Carson City.

Here is the full text of Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval's speech delivered to the Nevada Legislature Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015.

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Members of the Legislature, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Officers:

Former Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons had a very interesting term as Nevada's 28th governor from 2007-2011

Sierra Nevada Corporation announced Wednesday the successful completion of the Transport Telemedicine System Proof of Military Utility Advanced Development Assessment for the U.S. Army Medical Material Agency. TTS is a new capability that captures and communicates patient care and condition information beginning at the Point of Injury and continuing until arrival at a medical facility.

Sierra Nevada Corporation based in Sparks, Nev., announced Wednesday the debut of Sierra Completions, its newest subsidiary. Sierra Completions is a high-end aircraft completions company that focuses on state-of-the-art design and completion of dual- and single-aisle widebody aircraft built with composite airframe.

Southwest Gas is seeking a 2015 rate adjustment hike of around 31 cents a month in winter and 8 cents during summer for Northern Nevada customers, according to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

There will be a consumer session on Thursday, Sept. 18 to hear comments regarding the annual rate adjustment application. Southwest Gas also proposes to increase the average Southern Nevada residential customer monthly bill an estimated 9 cents during the summer and 27 cents in winter. If approved by the commission, the company proposes the rate changes take effect Jan. 1, 2015.

With the August completion of a 180-kW rooftop array at Western Nevada College in Carson City, nonprofit Black Rock Solar has reached the milestone of building five megawatts of solar power capacity across the state of Nevada. The 83 clean energy projects built by Black Rock Solar since its 2007 founding include arrays for schools, hospitals, food banks, homeless shelters and Native American tribes. These arrays have been built at little or no cost to the recipients, but now provide more than $725,000 of combined savings annually on the organizations’ energy bills.

Since 2009, Western Nevada College has actively sought ways to be sustainable in the operation of its campuses. Through continuing efforts and a commitment to use green energy, that vision is rising to new heights.

Black Rock Solar, a nonprofit corporation in Reno that specializes in expanding the use of renewable energy, just completed installation of 666 panels atop the Bristlecone Building on the Carson City campus. At 180 kilowatts, the project is Black Rock’s largest roof array to date.

(Carson City, Nev., July 17, 2014) – Local talent, Sarah A. Chichester, returns to the area and accepts associate position with Allison MacKenzie Law Firm effective May 15, 2014. Committed to providing exceptional service to clients, Sarah will practice in various legal areas with emphasis in family law and probate law.

New York Times author Novella Carpenter will be at the 3rd and Curry Street downtown Carson City Farmer’s Market on July 19 at 11 a.m. to chat about her bestselling memoir, Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer.

Carpenter and northern Nevada agriculture expert Mark O’Farrell, of Hungry Mother Organics, are set to engage in a kitchen-table visit. Under a large tent, with seats for 100, the conversation will be led by northern Nevada’s KTVN news anchor Erin Breen. The special event is aimed at raising awareness about the vital role farmers play in our lives.

A consumer session to discuss NV Energy's proposed rate decrease for Northern Nevada electric and gas customers will be presented by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada on Wednesday, June 25, 6 p.m. in Carson City.

For electric customers in Northern Nevada, NV Energy proposes to cut rates an estimated 11.78 percent across all rate classes. The average monthly residential bill is estimated to decrease $5.64, or 6.04 percent. For gas customers in Reno and Sparks, NV Energy proposes to decrease rates an estimated 0.12 percent across all rate classes.

The Nell J. Redfield Foundation has pledged $2 million in support of the William N. Pennington Student Achievement Center at the University of Nevada, Reno, a 78,000 square-foot building that will unite a myriad of student services now scattered across campus. It will connect students to dedicated and convenient services to support their academic success and timely graduation, as well as foster diversity, student engagement and student success.

USDA Rural Development will hold a workshop June 12 to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers apply for the federal Rural Energy for America Program funds.

The workshop will be conducted via video teleconference from 9-11:30 a.m. at Cooperative Extension offices in Carson City, Ely, Eureka, Yerington, Caliente and at the Logandale Office. USDA Rural Energy Coordinator Mark Williams will lead the training from the Carson City location to help applicants understanding the REAP application process.

Applications are being sought by the USDA from rural small businesses and agriculture producers looking to make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy installations, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday. Up to $12.3 million in grants and $57.8 million in loan guarantees are available nationwide.

From the front, St. Mary’s Art and Retreat Center is the epitome of Virginia City’s Old West heritage. But take a peak around back and you’ll find an energy source that’s anything but old-fashioned.

Reno nonprofit Black Rock Solar just completed construction of a 110-panel ground-mount photovoltaic array at the National Historic Landmark, built in 1875. The 30-kW array will generate enough energy to cover almost all the electricity costs of the former Comstock hospital.

In support of a renewed movement to get just three more states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, Northern Nevada residents met and rallied in front of the Nevada Legislature at noon on Tuesday in support of Sausalito-resident Helene de Boissiere-Swanson.

Chanwoo Park, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, joins a growing group of researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno who have received prestigious and highly competitive National Science Foundation CAREER awards.

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award is given to junior faculty at the beginning of their academic careers who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars, placing focus on high-quality research and education activities.

Black Rock Solar began construction in late February on two new Carson City area photovoltaic arrays: 324 ground-mounted panels at Sierra Lutheran High School and 193 rooftop panels at Silver State Charter Schools.

That means 135 kW of clean energy from the sun powering the 91-student Christian school and the 7th to 12th-grade charter school. It also means an annual utility-bill savings of more than $19,000 for the two schools – that’s $19,000 that can go toward expanded educational opportunities within the Carson City and Douglas County communities.

by SAGE LEEHEY If you’re interested at all in putting renewable energy technology — specifically, solar — on your home (or if you just want to learn more about it), the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and NV Energy are offering a tour of... Read More ›

A free public forum "Fueling Change: An Emergency Renewable Energy Era" will take place on Sept. 17, 5:30 p.m., at the Carson City Plaza Conference Center, 911 East 9th Street in Carson City.

See the flier below for details.