Media Contact:  Karl Walquist (775)834-3891

Renewable energy experts will be touring rural Nevada in March to tell farmers, ranchers and small business owners about incentive programs and grants that can lower their costs for installing solar panels, wind turbines or small hydroelectric systems.

Representatives from NV Energy's RenewableGenerations program; the Nevada Wind Working Group, a wind power advocacy group; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will make presentations at free Renewable Energy Workshops in Fallon, Carson City, Yerington, Elko and Winnemucca. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet local contractors and consultants who design and install small renewable energy power systems, and information about renewable power generation will be available at vendor displays. 

"Our goal is to reach out to farmers, ranchers and small businesses in rural communities to make sure they know about the rebates offered through our RenewableGenerations program and renewable energy grants available through the USDA,"said John Hargrove, project manager for energy efficiency and conservation at NV Energy."This combination of rebates and grants, as well as federal tax incentives, makes renewable energy more affordable than it was previously."

Hargrove said that since the start of NV Energy's SolarGenerations program six years ago, 565 photovoltaic projects capable of generating 3.8 megawatts of electricity have been installed statewide and $13.6 million has been paid in rebates to program participants. Similar rebate programs are available to NV Energy electric customers who install wind turbines or small hydroelectric generators.

Since the start of the WindGenerations program in 2008, 33 projects that generate a combined total of 105 kilowatts have been installed statewide, and $266,800 in incentives has been paid.

Lunch will be served at the workshops, and anyone planning on attending should RSVP online athttp://www.NVEnergy.com/renewablersvpor call (866)786-3823.    

Here's the schedule for the Renewable Energy Workshops.All of the workshops will be held from noon to 4 p.m.

Community                Date                                      Location______________________

Fallon                         Thursday, March 11              Fallon Convention Center

Carson City/Dayton

Minden/Gardnerville   Monday, March 15               Carson Plaza Hotel

Yerington                   Tuesday, March 16                Yerington County Library

Elko                           Wednesday, March 17           Stockman's Hotel& Casino

Winnemucca              Thursday, March 18              Winnemucca Convention Center

About NV Energy
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, 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 combined 54,500-square-mile service territory, NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services and products to approximately 2.4 million citizens of Nevada and nearly 40 million tourists annually.