Truckee Meadows Community College is holding a news conference on Wednesday, September 3 to announce plans for a new renewable energy program at the IGT Applied Technology Center at 475 Edison Way.

"We are answering the need this community and businesses have for skilled workers by providing opportunities for technical education, career/occupational education, and adult/continuing education,"said Dr. Maria Sheehan, TMCC president. "This new program will have the capacity to adapt to rapidly changing technologies and will be able to reach a broad range of employers through collaborative partnerships between TMCC and business and industry."

The college's new solar technologies lab is an excellent example of public-private partnerships in Northern Nevada. Sierra Pacific Resources provided a generous $100,000 donation to TMCC to purchase the equipment.

"We're pleased to provide financial support for TMCC's new renewable energy program,"said Mary Simmons, vice president of external affairs for Sierra Pacific Power."Nevada has an opportunity to be a national leader in renewable energy and the solar technologies lab can play a key role in that effort."

The new solar training lab will be installed and used by students in the alternative energy certificate, workshop training and proposed technician associate's degree programs. The solar demonstration and training lab will include four types of solar systems. Combined with a Web-based data monitoring system, this lab will provide TMCC students with the hands-on training for careers in the solar energy industry.

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 3

TIME: 10 a.m.
 
WHERE: Truckee Meadows Community College, 475 Edison Way– IGT Applied Technology Center

SPEAKERS: Dr. Maria Sheehan, TMCC President
 
 Mary Simmons, Vice President of External Affairs, Sierra Pacific Power Company

 Ted Plaggemeyer, TMCC Dean of Math, Science, Engineering and Technology
  
 Russ Cartwright, Operations Manager Independent Power Corp.