Media Contact:
Karl Walquist (775) 834-3891

Sierra Pacific Power is donating two vehicles from its utility fleet to the White Pine County School District in Ely.
 
Mary Simmons, vice president of External Affairs for the utility, met on June 21 with Pete Magnum, a member of the White Pine School District Board of Trustees, to discuss the donation. The school district will be getting a 1993 GMC, four-wheel-drive pickup and a 1994 GMC Yukon on June 29.
 
Mangum said the vehicles will be used by the school district's maintenance department and for teacher training, transportation and technology programs.

While no longer suitable for day-to-day use by the northern Nevada utility, the vehicles have been well maintained and are capable of many more miles of light-duty use, according to Jeff McKenzie, team leader of Sierra Pacific's Fleet Services Department, and an Ely native.

Sierra Pacific donates used utility vehicles to community service groups as they become available. Donations vary according to the needs of the nonprofit organizations and the types of vehicles that are next on the fleet retirement list.

Sierra Pacific Power and its sister company, Nevada Power, are developing the Ely Energy Center in White Pine County. The Companies announced the 2,500 MW project in January of this year, and are moving forward towards completion of the first unit in late 2011.