Sierra Nevada Forums to tackle renewable energy

A public discussion about renewable energy issues and the era those issues might prompt is set for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Plaza Hotel Conference Center.

The talk, offered by Sierra Nevada Forums, is titled “Fueling Change: An Emerging Renewable Energy Era.” Guest speakers, according to forum organizers, will be Dr. Alan Gertler, DRI vice president for research and director of the Desert Research Institute’s Clean Technologies and Renewable Energy Center; Jack McGinley of NV Energy, who is the NVE director of regulatory and legislative strategy; Paul Thomsen of Ormat Technologies, who is Ormat’s director of policy and business development; Marnee Benson, Black Rock Solar’s deputy director; David Noble, Public Utilities of Nevada commissioner; and Anne Macquarie, who will serve as moderator.

Macquarie is the blog editor for NCARE, also known as Nevadans for Clean Affordable Reliable Energy. She writes a periodic column for the Nevada Appeal.

Sierra Nevada Forums bills itself as a group offering public discussions and striving to present various points of view on a fact-oriented basis by bringing forth experts. They make presentations, then field questions from the audience. Questions may be submitted in advance.

Andie Wilson, one of the organizers, said all questions are welcome.

“We want to hear from all sides on every issue: from the left and the right, supporters and dissenters,” she said in an email. “A great way to make sure your concerns are addressed is to submit questions either prior to the event or at the event, whether you attend or not.”

She said question moderators sort through the queries. They are Nancy Scott with the League of Women Voters and Maurice White, a member of the Carson City Republican Caucus.