The Director may:

1. Administer any gifts or grants which the Office of Energy is authorized to accept for the purposes of this chapter.

2. To the extent not inconsistent with the terms or conditions of a gift, grant or appropriation, expend money received from those gifts or grants or from legislative appropriations to contract with qualified persons or institutions for research in the production and efficient use of energy resources.

3. Enter into any cooperative agreement with any federal or state agency or political subdivision.

4. Adopt any regulations that the Director determines are necessary to carry out the duties of the Office of Energy pursuant to this chapter.

5. Within the limits of legislative appropriations and other money authorized for expenditure for such purposes, promote, participate in the operation of, and create or cause to be created, any nonprofit corporation, pursuant to chapter 82 of NRS, which the Director determines is necessary or convenient for the exercise of the powers and duties of the Office of Energy. The purposes, powers and operation of the corporation must be consistent with the purposes, powers and duties of the Office of Energy.

6. Within the limits of legislative appropriations and other money authorized for expenditure for such purposes, negotiate and execute agreements with public or private entities which are necessary to the exercise of the powers and duties of the Director or the Office of Energy.

(Added to NRS by 1977, 1165; A 1979, 624, 1560; 1983, 2093; 1993, 1699; 2001, 3264; 2007, 3001; 2009, 1370)