NV Energy CEO highlights power company’s energy strategy

NV Energy Chief Executive Officer Michael Yackira got to highlight the local power company’s green-heavy energy strategy before a panel of prominent policymakers this afternoon at the National Clean Energy Summit 2.0, at UNLV.

Yackira told the panelists, including former Vice President Al Gore, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that the utility’s three-part strategy includes boosting energy efficiency, developing renewable resources and building traditional power plants that operate as “cleanly” as possible.

Yackira also told the crowd that NV Energy Tuesday will unveil a plan to fund renewable-energy engineering programs at UNLV and University of Nevada, Reno to help create a green-power work force in the state.

The power company’s pending $300 million investment in a new, “smart” power grid that could transmit green electricity will create 200 jobs, Yackira said. Some of those will be permanent jobs, including positions for people to switch out the utility’s meters. Some of those jobs would also go to NV Energy contractors.

The utility wants to “ensure we’re using energy resources as wisely as we can while reducing carbon emissions,” Yackira said.

Contact reporter Jennifer Robison at jrobison@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4512.