Following today's Environment Protection Agency announcement on carbon emissions, Reno city officials say the local clean energy industry is in a good position to capitalize on these new rules. Reno Public Radio’s Julia Ritchey explains why.
Mayor Hillary Schieve and two other City Council members held a short press conference on the heels of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new plan designed to combat climate change.
Councilman David Bobzien says since 2009, Reno has approved energy-saving projects ranging from solar panel systems to wind turbines to lighting retrofits.
“The entire state of Nevada is well-positioned economically to take this opportunity of the Clean Power Plan to grow our domestic renewable industry,” says Bobzien.
Members of Reno’s renewable energy industry also attended the briefing in downtown Reno. Shawn O’Meara is the division manager of a company called SunWorks, which installs solar systems.
“We’re installing 15 to 20 new residential systems a month and we’re about to start a 600-kilowatt system out in Lockwood for a local alfalfa grower, so things are looking bright,” he says.
Councilman Bobzien says he plans to introduce a resolution at the August 26 meeting formalizing the city’s commitment to clean energy.
