The Director shall:

1. Utilize all available public and private means to:

(a) Provide information to the public about issues relating to energy and to explain how conservation of energy and its sources may be accomplished; and

(b) Work with educational and research institutions, trade associations and any other public and private entities in this State to create a database for information on technological development, financing opportunities and federal and state policy developments regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency.

2. Encourage the development of any sources of renewable energy and any energy projects which will benefit the State and any measures which conserve or reduce the demand for energy or which result in more efficient use of energy, including, without limitation, by:

(a) Identifying appropriate areas in this State for the development of sources of renewable energy, based on:

(1) Assessments of solar, wind and geothermal potential;

(2) Evaluations of natural resource constraints;

(3) Current electric transmission infrastructure and capacity; and

(4) The feasibility of the construction of new electric transmission lines;

(b) Working with renewable energy developers to locate their projects within appropriate areas of this State, including, without limitation, assisting the developers to interact with the Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Defense and other federal agencies in:

(1) Expediting land leases;

(2) Resolving site issues; and

(3) Receiving permits for projects on public lands within the appropriate areas of this State;

(c) Coordinating the planning of renewable energy projects in appropriate areas of this State to establish a mix of solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy systems that create a reliable source of energy and maximize the use of current or future transmission lines and infrastructure; and

(d) Developing proposals for the financing of future electric transmission projects for renewable energy if no such financing proposals exist.

3. Review jointly with the Nevada System of Higher Education the policies of this State relating to the research and development of the geothermal energy resources in this State and make recommendations to the appropriate state and federal agencies concerning methods for the development of those resources.

4. If the Director determines that it is feasible and cost-effective, enter into contracts with researchers from the Nevada System of Higher Education:

(a) To conduct environmental studies relating to the identification of appropriate areas in this State for the development of renewable energy resources, including, without limitation, hydrologic studies, solar resource mapping studies and wind power modeling studies;

(b) For the development of technologies that will facilitate the energy efficiency of the electricity grid for this State, including, without limitation, meters that facilitate energy efficiency for consumers of electricity; and

(c) For the design of energy efficiency and retrofit projects to carry out the comprehensive program for retrofitting public buildings in this State with energy efficiency measures.

5. Carry out all other directives concerning energy that are prescribed by the Legislature.

(Added to NRS by 2009, 1366; A 2011, 2063)