July '09 Nevada Government—Shelley Berkley Column

Berkley Secures $1.2 Million To Help Turn

Agassi Academy In Las Vegas “Green”

Funds Will Be Used to Create State-of-the-Art Solar

Energy System at Las Vegas School

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley announced nearly $1.2 million in federal funding has been awarded for construction of a solar energy system at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas.

“This project will supply the Agassi Academy with a steady a source of clean energy, while also teaching students how the sun can be captured to light their classrooms and power their computers. Nevada and our nation will both benefit from having a generation of students who are taught the importance of harnessing renewable ‘green’ energy. And Las Vegas and other communities benefit from increased energy efficiency and from the jobs that are produced by solar power projects like the one that will be added at Agassi Prep,” said Berkley. “This investment will produce real energy savings, while also serving as a valuable teaching tool, so it is good for the students and good for the school.”

The nearly $1.2 million in Department of Energy funding -- which Berkley secured in February of this year -- will be used to develop a photovoltaic solar system to help meet the Academy’s energy demands. The addition of the solar energy collection system is part of an Academy-wide plan to implement a program focusing on renewable energy and the importance of energy efficiency.

The addition of the advanced regenerative fuel cell system, which utilizes photovoltaic technology, will provide power to the Academy, while also creating a learning environment for students to explore alternative power sources such as solar, fuel cells, and hydrogen.

Berkley Wins House Approval For $4 Million In Valley Projects

Funding for Las Vegas Wash Restoration, North Las Vegas Water Reclamation Facility, Agassi Prep Solar Power System

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV) today (July 17, 2009) secured House approval for more than $4 million in Nevada priorities included in the 2010 Energy and Water funding bill. The legislation was approved on a vote of 320 to 97. Included in the package are projects to enhance the Las Vegas Wash and protect water quality at Lake Mead, and for a water reclamation facility now under construction in North Las Vegas.

“Lake Mead is the main source of the Valley’s drinking water supplies and we need to take steps to protect water quality. This includes projects to help minimize the impact of storm water, treated wastewater and runoff from lawns, landscaping and Valley streets,” said Berkley. “The funding included in this bill will help address erosion, habitat loss and overall threats to Lake Mead’s water quality by improving conditions along the Las Vegas Wash. Long term management plans call for stabilizing the Wash, establishing wetlands in order to increase wildlife habitat and taking steps to help maintain water quality. The projects funded in this bill will help us to meet all three of these critical goals,” Berkley said.

The bill funds ongoing work to build a wastewater reclamation facility in North Las Vegas.

	“Reclaiming wastewater is one more way we can maximize the Valley’s limited water resources. Funding in this bill will help cover construction costs for this North Las Vegas facility, which will reclaim up to 25 million gallons per day in wastewater. Recapturing these gallons will provide an alternative to using potable water at our local parks and golf courses and for large industrial uses like laundry facilities or making concrete,” said Berkley. Berkley also secured $500,000 for the Las Vegas based Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy for development of a photovoltaic solar system to help meet the school’s energy demands. The addition of the advanced regenerative fuel cell system will provide power to the Academy, while also creating a learning environment for students to explore renewable and alternative power sources such as solar, fuel cells and hydrogen. An additional $750,000 will go to the Desert Research Institute (DRI) for a study on drought. This project focuses on creating a better understanding of the current and future use of water resources within the State of Nevada. The effort will utilize a dedicated supercomputer to look at various past, present and future Nevada water resources and to gauge the impacts of current drought conditions.

	Berkley FY 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Projects

	Lake Mead Water Quality and Las Vegas Wash Enhancements: $2.7 million
	North Las Vegas Water Reclamation facility: $100,000
	DRI water resources data project: $750,000
	Agassi Preparatory Academy alternative energy project: $500,000