Renewable energy advocates get Obama tickets

A half dozen Nevadans who have advocated for renewable energy scored tickets to President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech on Wednesday night.

Sen. Harry Reid issued the invitations to the speech where it is likely Obama will renew his call for the nation to pursue clean-energy strategies as a way to create jobs and diversify the economy.

Reid's office said the intent of having Nevadans in attendance was to underscore the importance of clean energy within the state. Before the speech they will meet with Reid and carry that message in a meeting with the Washington press.

The guests, who are paying their own way to Washington, will be:

• C. Robert Pedraza of Reno, vice president for corporate strategy at Altair Nanotechnologies

• Richard Licata of Reno, principal architect of Licata Hansen Architecture and a regional director of the American Institute of Architects.

• Marybel Batjer, vice president of public policy and communications at Harrah's Entertainment, which has made a corporate commitment to energy efficiency.

• Rose McKinney James of Las Vegas, board member of Energy Works Consulting and a member of Obama's transition team that handled energy issues.

• Robert Buntjer of Las Vegas, assistant training director of Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee of Southern Nevada.

• Jaime Cruz of Las Vegas, program director for green economy workforce development, Nevada Workforce Connections.