‘Strike force’ aims to learn why state lacks renewable energy projects

By Stephanie Tavares

Friday, April 16, 2010 | 5:06 p.m.

Nevada is launching a "strike force" to find out why the state is not getting more renewable energy projects.

Energy Office Director Jim Groth said several major renewable energy development companies have chosen to locate their facilities in Nevada’s neighboring states in the past ten months, potentially costing the state an important revenue source.

The Nevada Energy Economic Strike Force team met for the first time Wednesday in Carson City. The group is meant to find ways to remove barriers holding back renewable energy development and make Nevada more attractive to renewable energy companies.

The informal group consists of public employees, private sector energy experts, consultants, utility representatives, educators and energy efficiency experts.

Teams within the Strike Force are being formed to tackle issues like transmission, permitting, funding sources, regulatory structure, energy efficiency, outreach and land issues.

In the release, Groth claimed Nevada had "the technological know-how and certainly the immense brain trust to develop and operate a renewable energy economy that can help deliver our state out of the recession."