
6 minute read
green
from Oct. 31, 2013
PHOTO/SAGE LEEHEY Black Rock Solar has installed more than three megawatts of solar power in Nevada. From left, Alex Kirkpatrick, project manager; Laura Brigham, communications coordinator; Catherine Leon, education program manager; Marnee Benson, deputy director; Matt Sheets, office administrator; and Anthony Jacks, energy efficiency and solar thermal manager.
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Solar energy non-profit receives award

Local non-profit solar energy provider, Black Rock Solar, earned national recognition for their solar energy installations and educational work last week. by The organization won the Brian D. Robertson Solar Schools Memorial
Sage Leehey Fund Award after being nominated by the fund’s board and then voted sagel@ on by the public. They were in the running against Grid Alternatives newsreview.com and Solar Liberty for the vote. BRS was honored for this award at Solar Power World magazine’s Top 250 Solar Contractors Gala on Oct. 21. This gala was scheduled during Solar Power International 2013 in Chicago, which is a large annual solar industry conference. It was attended by over 15,000 solar industry professionals from more than 75 countries, according to the conference’s website. Executive Director Patrick “Paddy” McCully accepted this award at the gala in Chicago. The memorial fund is named in honor of a solar industry giant who died suddenly in December 2011. Brian D. Robertson was a leader of several different solar companies, including Amonix Inc. where he was CEO. Amonix Inc. specializes in the design and manufacturing of solar power plants. “Brian Robertson was a prominent leader in the solar industry … and then was killed in a plane crash, so this memorial was set up for him,” McCully said. “I never met him, but he was very into philanthropy and helping schools. The memorial fund is set up to award people in the solar industry who help with schools and things like that. It’s really nice to get this recognition for the work we’re doing.” The gala hosted the top 250 solar contractors—as its name suggests— in the country, including five contractors from Nevada. Three of these were from Las Vegas—Bombard Renewable Energy at rank 71, Sol-Up USA at rank 203 and Robco Electric at rank 206. One was also from Carson City—Sierra Solar Systems at rank 196—and one was from Reno—Hamilton Solar at rank 101. These five companies are responsible for 81.27 megawatts of solar energy installed and employ 145 employees. For more information McCully explained that the organization is honored to receive this about Black Rock award but is truly excited by what it could do for the organization’s
Solar, visit www. blackrocksolar.org. future solar installation projects because of the fact that BRS is receiving the award in front of the biggest and best solar contractors in the business. “We’re a non-profit, so we have to try to get donations to do our work. We’re getting recognition for our work and recognition from the solar industry, and hopefully that will be helpful in getting donations from the solar industry for solar panels and equipment,” McCully said. “We do projects for people that couldn’t normally afford it, so those things are helpful.” BRS has currently installed more than three megawatts of solar power in Nevada since its beginning at the Burning Man festival in 2007 where it installed a 30-kilowatt photovoltaic array, later donated to Gerlach. Those three megawatts are made up of over 15,000 individual solar panels that have been installed on schools, non-profit organizations, hospitals, tribal buildings and community centers. Ω
THROUGH THE SCARY
IT WAS AN UNUSUAL LUNCH. RON BROUGHT HIS
parrot, Trouble, and we got Trouble his own plate of chicken wings, which Trouble ate while sitting on Ron’s shoulder. I will admit I was distracted. Ron Finfer is the owner of Ability Counseling, and his path through the scary started at a very young age. Ron grew up in Los Angeles in the 1980’s. “I had bone cancer as a child, and every time it resurfaced, I knew it could kill me. So by the time I was a teenager, the way I dealt with it was to stay as loaded as possible.” At 17 Ron found 12-step and stayed sober until 22. His relapse lasted ten years. “Five of them were spent in a 5-star, 6-fence, 7-gun federal hotel with a lousy concierge.” Even after Ron got out of federal prison, he continued to use. Until he was on the verge of taking his own life. Ron remembers looking in the mirror the day before he sobered up and screaming at his refl ection, “I want myself back!” Ron played for some big-name bands, and on his last day of drinking, a fellow musician walked into the bar that Ron was at and recognized him from Ron’s L.A. music days. Ron offered him “A line, a drink, and a joint. And he said, ‘No way Man, I’ve been sober 7 years.’” Ron believes that God speaks through people. He asked this man who was at this point no more than a stranger really, to take him to a meeting. On June 14, 2001, he went to that meeting, and has never looked back. Ron’s advice to parents: “Starting from about age 12 your child’s peer group will have a lot of infl uence. You need to get your kids active in spots or after school activities. Look for problems. A little weed is not okay.” Ron’s advice for addicts: Ron follows the therapy of Alfred Adler. “People are driven by goals and social involvement. If a person can replace the use of drugs with standards and goals, they will fi nd that achieving a goal is the best form of getting high!” If you happen to be in Reno and you see a guy with a parrot on his shoulder, it’s going to be Ron. Need help? Ask him for it, because he’s been there. Ron is an alcohol and drug counselor and can be reached at RenoDuiCouncling.com Let’s help each other Through the Scary. Please share your successes. Contact me at
Laura.Newman8888@gmail.com.
NEED HELP NOW? JTNN offers weekly meetings with THE PARENT GROUP, 6:00pm Thursdays at 505 S. Arlington. Confi dential, FREE, and run by a licensed counselor.
Laura Newman – JTNN Board 775-324-7557


the reno news & review is hiring a distribution manager
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The ideal candidaTe will possess:
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