Donation will fund technical training in wind energy

Media Contact: Karl Walquist (775) 834-3891, Cell: (775) 771-3891

The NV Energy Foundation announced today that it's providing $50,000 in additional funding for the renewable energy training program at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC). NV Energy Senior Vice President Jeff Ceccarelli made the announcement at an event celebrating completion of TMCC's Solar Demonstration Lab at 475 Edison Way in Reno.

Ceccarelli said the latest donation will be used to fund technical training related to wind energy. In 2008, the utility foundation donated $100,000 to TMCC for construction of the solar training facility. 

Students enrolled in the TMCC's construction technologies program now have the opportunity to earn an associate of applied science degree with an emphasis in renewable energy. The training combines classroom and hands-on training and the program is led by Ted Plaggemeyer, TMCC's dean of math, science, engineering and technology. A total of 58 students enrolled in the program during the spring 2009 semester, according to TMCC.

"We're very proud to be partners with TMCC in the Renewable Energy Training Program,"Ceccarelli said, adding that the NV Energy Foundation is also funding renewable energy programs at University of Nevada campuses in Reno and Las Vegas. 

The NV Energy Foundation donated $500,000 in 2007 to develop an undergraduate program in sustainable engineering at the university, and has made a commitment to provide an additional $500,000 in funding over the next two years.

TMCC also received a check for $45,913 today from NV Energy's SolarGenerations program for installing approximately 10 kilowatts of solar energy panels at the Solar Demonstration Lab. SolarGenerations provides financial incentives to utility customers who install photovoltaic solar panels.

Headquartered in Las Vegas, NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, are doing business as NV Energy. Serving a 54,500-square-mile service territory that stretches north to south from Elko to Laughlin, NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services and products to approximately 2.4 million citizens of Nevada as well as
approximately 40 million tourists annually.