Tag: Nevada

EPA Recognizes Outstanding Food Recovery Challenge and WasteWise Program Participants

Posted: January 28, 2015

Food Recovery Challenge Participants Alone Diverted 370,000 Tons of Wasted Food from Landfills

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the accomplishments of organizations and businesses participating in EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge and WasteWise program for reducing their climate footprint, improving efficiency, helping communities and achieving cost savings through waste reduction. These programs save money, protect the environment and feed the hungry.

“In 2013, EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge participants diverted more than 370,000 tons of wasted food from entering landfills or incinerators. Of this total, more than 36,000 tons of food was donated to feed people in need, which equates to nearly 56 million meals,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “I commend the efforts of our award winners and encourage others to follow their lead by joining the Food Recovery Challenge. These leaders demonstrate that protecting the environment, saving money and feeding the hungry can go hand in hand.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that wasted food costs America more than $165 billion annually and that the average family of four throws away $1,600 of food each year. The Food Recovery Challenge participants and endorsers, through innovation and hard work, have greatly reduced wasted food. Food pantries, food rescue programs, local food banks, soup kitchens and shelters are benefiting from donations of wholesome and nutritious food — helping feed people, not landfills.

EPA presented 23 awards to Food Recovery Challenge participants and endorsers in two categories: data-driven and narrative. The data-driven award recipients achieved the highest percentage of wasted food diversion and prevention. The narrative award winners excelled in areas of source reduction, leadership, innovation, education and outreach, and endorsement. Continue reading EPA Recognizes Outstanding Food Recovery Challenge and WasteWise Program Participants

Obama Administration Selects Los Angeles, Calif., Ajo, Ariz. and Fallon, Nev. to Develop Local Food Projects, Encourage Economic Expansion

Posted: December 5, 2014

26 communities selected nationwide for Local Foods, Local Places Initiative

SAN FRANCISCO — Today, on behalf of the White House Rural Council, six federal agencies joined to announce 26 communities selected to participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative providing technical support to integrate local food systems into community economic action plans. Over the next two years, the project will aim to increase access to locally grown, healthy fruits and vegetables for residents while boosting economic opportunity for farmers/producers in various areas.

The Youth Policy Institute in Los Angeles, Calif. will receive technical assistance to create a community-supported agriculture program that can improve the health of low-income residents by increasing access to local foods, boost economic opportunities for farmers and producers in the region, and help revitalize distressed neighborhoods.
Continue reading Obama Administration Selects Los Angeles, Calif., Ajo, Ariz. and Fallon, Nev. to Develop Local Food Projects, Encourage Economic Expansion

U.S. EPA honors 2014 Green Power Leaders

Posted: December 3, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented its annual Green Power Leadership Awards to 23 businesses and organizations for their efforts to significantly advance the green power market by using electricity from renewable energy including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydroelectric sources.

“By using green power, these businesses and organizations are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts associated with climate change, and protecting public health,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Our partners demonstrate that green power is both accessible and affordable while also growing the renewable energy market.”

EPA presented the awards at the Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Sacramento, Calif. The following businesses and organizations in the Pacific Southwest were among the winners nationwide:

On-Site Generation Partner of the Year

City of Las Vegas, Nev. reinvests 100 percent of its savings from solar projects into more renewable energy and conservation, with the goal of becoming a net-zero energy city by 2020. Las Vegas installed 3.3 megawatts of solar photovoltaic panels at its wastewater treatment facility, which, combined with energy retrofits and solar panel installation at city facilities, will save more than $2.5 million per year in energy costs.

Close to one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions or about 40 percent of America’s carbon pollution comes from power plants. By using green power, communities, businesses and organizations can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, improve public health and help transition the United States to cleaner energy sources.

The 23 award-winning partners were chosen for their exemplary use of green power from more than 1,300 partner organizations. EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with organizations to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel-based electricity use. Green Power Partnership organizations currently use over 7.6 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually.

More on the 2014 Green Power Leadership award winners: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm

How Burning Man inspired a solar surge in Nevada

Posted on July 2, 2014
Source: Mother Earth News.com By: Sami Grover

After the 2007 Burning Man, volunteers repurposed a solar array for a local school. That installation led to many, many more.

From the tiny houses of Burning Man to its ‘Burn Clean’ initiative, the Burning Man Festival in the Nevada desert has some significant eco-credentials (though it has a significant carbon footprint too!). But perhaps one of its most important legacies is the birth of Black Rock Solar, a nonprofit providing solar energy installations to organizations in need. NationSwell has a fascinating, inspiring account of how the group got started:
Black Rock Solar was a tiny nonprofit back then, cobbled together by a dozen volunteers after the 2007 “burn,” the week long event held in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert where thousands of artists, musicians and creative types gather each August. That year, a solar installation was donated to Burning Man, and the leave-no-trace ethic behind the gathering meant that the volunteers had to find a home for the array once the festival ended. They did — at a local school in Gerlach, Nevada, on the edge of the desert 10 miles from the festival.
That installation was to be the first of many. Armed with fresh experience and knowledge of the state’s rebates and incentives, Black Rock started looking for community organizations that might benefit from low cost, sustainable energy. They also pushed Nevada’s Public Utility Commission to remove a cap limiting incentives to solar installations smaller than 30 kilowatts, opening the door for larger, more visible installations.

Continue reading How Burning Man inspired a solar surge in Nevada

U.S. Government Announces $1.1 Billion for Henderson Perchlorate Clean Up

Posted: March 3, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO – A settlement announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice secured $1.1 billion in funds to cleanup a former chemical manufacturing site in Henderson, Nev.

The Henderson site is the largest perchlorate groundwater plume in the country. The plume has contaminated Lake Mead, which feeds into the Colorado River, a major source of drinking water in the Southwest. Perchlorate can interfere with the production of thyroid hormones, which are needed for prenatal and postnatal growth and development, as well as for normal metabolism and mental function in adults.

“This historic $1.1 billion settlement will result in cleaning up the nation’s largest perchlorate plume and ensuring that 15 million people throughout the West will have access to safe drinking water,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the EPA Pacific Southwest.
Continue reading U.S. Government Announces $1.1 Billion for Henderson Perchlorate Clean Up

NV Energy The 2014 Sure Bet Incentive Program

Posted: February 3, 2014
Source: NV Energy Sure Bet Incentive Program

Energy costs are the most controllable operating expenses for most businesses. The Sure Bet program offers cash incentives and technical assistance to commercial customers to help them improve energy efficiency and save money on power bills.

Incentives are available for NV Energy’s commercial electric customers in new construction, major renovations, existing facility project improvements, and NV Energy commercial gas customers in the Reno-Sparks area.

  • Sure Bet incentives reduce your initial project costs
  • Energy efficiency improvements reduce your energy use and produce long-term savings

Application Process

  • Submit pre-notification application.
  • Sure Bet team reviews the application; conducts pre-inspections as necessary and reserves funding for eligible projects.
  • Complete project within reservation period
  • 90-day reservation period will be strictly enforced. Contact the Sure Bet team if your project is delayed.
  • Submit project completion agreement when project is finished.
  • Sure Bet team reviews request for payment; conducts post- inspections as necessary.
  • Incentive check will be issued 4-6 weeks after NV Energy approval

Questions: Contact a Sure Bet Program representative at 1-800-342-6335 or
email us at SureBet@nvenergy.com

EPA awards $15 million to Nevada for water quality, public health

Posted: November 8, 2013
Contact: Margot Perez-Sullivan, perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection a $6.5 million grant for its Clean Water State Revolving Fund and an $8.5 million grant for its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for water pollution control and drinking water infrastructure projects.

“In the last 24 years, EPA has provided over $320 million in funding for Nevada water projects alone” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Without this investment and creative financing at the federal level, many communities would not be able to provide for Nevadans’ basic needs for clean, safe drinking water and proper wastewater treatment.”
NDEP will use the funds to provide low-cost loans for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades. NDEP’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) provides financing for municipal wastewater treatment projects, while its Drinking Water SRF provides financial assistance for supporting drinking water infrastructure systems.
Continue reading EPA awards $15 million to Nevada for water quality, public health