~ for immediate release

news release February 8, 2007

Contact: Heather Emmons, DRI PIO, heather.emmons@dri.edu, Reno (775) 673-7313 (w), (702) 743-3435 (c)

Kate Kirkpatrick, DRI GreenPower Coordinator, kate.kirkpatrick@dri.edu, (775) 673-7488
All DRI News Releases are available at: http://news.dri.edu/

Ely adds green power to David E. Norman Elementary School    

Reporters and Editors, Please Note
 
WHO: Desert Research Institute and Sierra Pacific Resources 

WHAT: Unveil new GreenPower solar electric installation at David E. Norman Elementary School in Ely, Nev.

WHERE: David E. Norman Elementary, 1001 East 11th Street, Ely, Nev. 89301

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m.

HOW: Brief ceremony with students, faculty, Sierra Pacific Resources Chairman, President and CEO Walter Higgins, DRI President Stephen Wells and Chair of the GreenPower Committee Jim Kropid.

VISUALS: Solar array, wind generator, display of student renewable energy poster contest, $100 savings bond from Nevada Bank and Trust to be presented to poster contest winner. 

BACKGROUND: The David E. Norman Elementary installation marks the 14th GreenPower installation in the state and consists of a 2,000-watt photovoltaic system and a 1,000-watt wind generator. The photovoltaic panels were mounted to racks located south of the school cafeteria and the wind turbine was placed on a pole at the same location.  Materials and installation costs for the renewable energy demonstration project were donated by Sierra Pacific Resources, parent company of Sierra Pacific Power and Nevada Power.  The installation includes computer software that will enable students to monitor the output of the generators in the school’s computer room. The project was designed by Michael Kerna of The Energy Architect, an Elko-based firm, and the installation was completed by Gust Electric of Ely.

"Sierra Pacific is strongly committed to renewable energy and education, and this program brings both of them together and it gives students the opportunity to see the concepts they're studying firsthand," Mary Simmons, vice president for external affairs for Sierra Pacific Power Co., said.

The GreenPower program is a partnership between the Desert Research Institute, DRI's Research Foundation, Sierra Pacific Power Co. in northern Nev. and Nevada Power in southern Nev.  The program is supported by voluntary customer contributions made by customers of Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power companies through their monthly utility bills.  All contributions are 100 percent tax deductible.

A nonprofit, statewide division of the Nevada System of High Education, DRI pursues a full-time program of basic and applied environmental research on a local, national and international scale.  More than 500 full- and part-time scientists, technicians, and support staff conduct more than 300 research projects at DRI annually.  DRI generates almost $50 million in total revenue consisting predominately of competitively won research contracts and grants. The State of Nevada provides critical funding in support of DRI's administration, operations and maintenance through the Nevada System of Higher education budget.  While DRI’s portion of the NSHE budget is approximately 1 percent, the institute leverages these funds to enhance its competitiveness.