Governor to deliver keynote address at sustainable living conference

Gov. Jim Gibbons will be the keynote speaker at the 2007 Sustainable Living and Renewable Energy Roundup.

Sen. Mark Amodei will introduce Gov. Jim Gibbons at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bently's Ferris Park. Gibbons will address the scope of natural energy resources in Nevada.

There will be no charge for the weekend-long conference.

More than 50 speakers are on tap for the weekend of exhibitors, art show, films and live entertainment.

The conference kicks off 6 p.m. Friday with a free consumer's Green Forum at Minden Elementary School.

Award winning San Francisco architect David Arkin will lead off with his talk, "Maximum Kick with Minimum Impact," the basic principles of green building and how to integrate renewable energy. American Solar Energy Society Executive Director and Solar Today Editor Brad Collins of Boulder, Colo., will talk about renewable energy. Full Circle Compost owner Craig Witt and Interpretive Gardens owner Tom Stille will talk about landscaping, agriculture, home gardening and water issues.

On the weekend, the roundup moves to Bently's Ferris Park & Western Nevada College, Buckeye Road 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday

"Veggie Van" creator Josh Tickell will talk about biodiesel. At 1 p.m. Sunday, Sen. Dina Titus will talk about economic benefits of using Nevada's renewable energy, and the rebates/incentives available to users. World traveler, Dr. David Renne will then discuss global climate change and renewable energy projects in countries from Africa to China.

Workshops start at 9:30 a.m. each day at the Bently's Ferris Park in the morning; at WNC after 2:30 p.m. Shuttle buses available between sites. There will be 45-minute classes will cover topics related to ranching/gardening, alternative energy, green building, transportation, community planning, environmental, water and financial issues.

At 2 p.m. shuttle buses will be available to take participants to Western Nevada College for additional speakers and movies.

On Saturday, "The Veggie Van Voyage," "Who's Got the Power?" "Geothermal Energy, A Renewable Option," and "Blue Vinyl" will play.

On Sunday "Toxic Bust," and "Who's Got the Power?" will play.

Musical trio Monique Haviland, David Jobe and Wesley Orsolic will perform 12:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The BarBQ Boys perform 4 p.m. Saturday.

The event is free. There is no charge for workshops or parking. For more information, call Marion Barritt at 782-7353 or Vicki Bates at 265-6827 or visit www.cvsustainables.org