2024 Nevada Clean Energy Fair Coming Earth Day Weekend

Some of Nevada's leading climate champions are joining forces this month for the inaugural 2024 Nevada Clean Energy Fair. Their mission is to bring people in the Las Vegas community together to learn about clean energy and sustainability. As well as to connect the community to resources and to take action toward a cleaner climate in Nevada.

Clean energy, also known carbon-free energy, is electricity generated by facilities that don't directly emit greenhouse gases during the generating process, according to constellation.com. These gasses, like carbon dioxide, have negative effects on the environment and contribute to climate change.

Sol-Up Las Vegas is partnering with the Citizen's Climate League to hold the fair, which will be on Sunday, April 21, 2024. The Citizen's Climate League is a nonpartisan grassroots organization passionate about climate change. They are dedicated to helping citizens advocate for effective solutions to climate change by educating people and encouraging them to be active in their local legislation.

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Sol-Up is a full-service energy solution and conservation company with locations in Las Vegas, Reno, California and Idaho. Beyond being a provider for solar and battery storage systems, Sol-Up helps homeowners achieve energy independence. They do this partly by selling energy-efficient products. Including solar panels, battery storage systems, energy-efficient doors and windows, electric bikes, energy-efficient appliances, and even green cleaning products.

The Las Vegas community is invited to the Nevada Clean Energy Fair to see demos of solar-powered equipment, enjoy food trucks, and participate in various workshops about solar education. There will also be job and volunteer opportunities for those who want to get involved in the solar community.

Keynote speakers who are passionate about clean energy and sustainability will also be at the fair. And will include some local elected officials. Including State Senator Fabian Donate, State Senator Dallas Harris, and State Attorney General Aaron Ford. Assemblyman Howard Watts will also be in attendance, as well as Director of the Office Of Energy, Dwayne McClinton. For those who have questions about how a solar-powered home can save them money, Energy and Tax Attorneys Curt Ledford and Kent Woods will also be participating in the panel discussion.

The fair will be held at the Sol-Up Las Vegas showroom, at 4305 Dean Martin Drive, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m

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Many Nevada homeowners know all too well what can happen if a tree in their yard isn't cared for properly. But there are some myths surrounding how to properly care for our tall nature friends. It's especially important to have a healthy tree during our rough seasons. Spring and summer months in Nevada are infamously a time when unhealthy trees are at risk of damage or falling.

March through June are typically our windiest months, bringing wind gusts of at least 58 mph, lasvegasnevada.gov reports. And monsoon season comes right after, from June to October. So making sure your trees are healthy and stable before these seasons is vital.

When some people think of Southern Nevada topography, they see the desert. Cacti, Joshua and Yucca trees. And we do have our share of those around the Mojave.

But we also have a lot more variety of trees than just the typical desert dwellers. With Mount Charleston nearby, we have a lot of pine trees as well. I've lived in my current house in Las Vegas for over 10 years. And even though I could move closer to where I work, I wouldn't dream of it. Because my backyard landscaping makes it feel like I'm on vacation in those nearby mountains.

I have such beautiful trees in my backyard that it's hard some days to remember I live in the desert. Two pine trees flank the back wall near my garden. And the side wall is decorated with pomegranate, lemon and mandarin trees. I also have at least three other varieties of trees in the side and front yards that I couldn't even name if I wanted to.

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With all these trees to care for, it's hard to know which tree needs what. Nevada homeowners who don't get a newly-built home usually end up taking over the care for whatever tree was in the yard before. I am certainly someone in that boat. And when you aren't the one who planted the tree, like me, you might not know its variety or the kind of care it needs.

Often, when a tree is unhealthy, there will be visible signs that indicate it. Like severed or raised roots, mushrooms or other fungi, peeling bark or discolored leaves. This video from the Davey Tree Expert Company gives more visible signs Nevada homeowners should look out for, as well as instruction on how to inspect your trees.

Like many homeowners, especially those of us who didn't pick out or oversee the planting of our trees, I'm not very well-educated when it comes to tree care. But I do check my trees from time to time, to the best of my ability, to look for signs of decay.

What I don't do is wait until one of my trees is leaning over or otherwise showing signs of an issue. Because with our windy months, having a strong tree that can withstand those gusts could be the difference between me having a hole in my my roof or not.

That pine tree in my backyard could do some serious damage if it ever decided to fall over. And not just to my house. It's tall enough that it could reach at least two of my neighbor's houses, depending on the direction it fell. That's a law suit I'm really okay not having to deal with.

To keep our trees healthy and happy, we don't have to be tree experts. But we also shouldn't assume things about trees that could hurt them in the long run.

The Davey Tree Expert Company is a knowledgeable resource for all things tree-related. And they have expert arborists throughout North America. Ken Busse is the expert in the Las Vegas area, and he reached out to debunk some myths about trees that Nevada homeowners ought to know.

One of the pine trees in my backyard is so tall that it towers over my roof. Which is nice on those sunny summer days. But on the windy days, it can get a little rough. With the pine needles brushing against my patio awning, like an angry neighbor coming to yell at me for blocking his driveway.

I would be worried on those days if I was the person who pruned those pine giants. But I'm not. I hire guys to come in and do it for me. Because I know pruning isn't as easy as it seems. Sure, anyone can use a ladder and pruning shears. But knowing how to prune properly is the important thing.

The Davey experts say that pruning is different for each breed of tree. And unless you're a professional arborist, or someone with an tree obsession and endless hours to watch YouTube, you might not know what your specific tree needs. Even the proper way to remove a branch or how much tree to cut depends on the type of tree you have.

Okay, it's a tree. Not a camel. Though even camels need water once in a while. A tree's age does determine how much water it needs, but even the oldest of them need watering during a long dry spell. Knowing how and where to water is important too. Those very old pines in my backyard are about 40 or so feet from my patio door. But the roots are much closer because the tree's root system has really spread out over the years.

In fact, when I was laying flagstone just around the patio, I ran into some huge roots just a few inches below the surface. And I'm sure they belonged to that pine that was far from where I was sitting.

The Davey experts advise that less frequent, deep watering is the key to keeping our trees hydrated during the droughts we often encounter in the desert. They recommend a drip irrigation or soaker hose, and a two-inch layer of mulch around the tree to keep the soil moist. Just make sure the mulch doesn't pile up against the root flare (where the first main roots attach to the trunk) where excess soil can actually damage.

When trees live in the forest, there are plenty of nutrients available to it. The Davey experts say that's not the case in our backyards, especially when our grasses are fighting our trees for nutrients. Plus, when we rake up those leaves (or use the leaf blower, in my case), we're taking away the very things that break down and recycle and give some nutrients back to our trees.

The Davey experts say that a slow-release fertilizer is essential for a tree's vitality. And throughout their life. Not just when they're young.

If this one were true, I'd be in trouble. Remember that tree branch that hangs over my house? Well it might be a hazard if it wasn't pruned correctly or the tree or branch weren't healthy. But since I have professionals who make sure both are so, I'm in the clear.

The Davey experts confirm this and say that not having a professional prune your trees actually could prevent the branches from properly healing. That's where the real threat comes in. An unhealed tree could become unstable and dangerous.

Another myth I'd be in trouble for if it were actually true. Fortunately, it's not. Like all pines, the tall trees in my backyard are highly susceptible to our high winds. The Davey experts say it's the structure of the tree, and how healthy it is, that really determines safety more than the species of the tree itself.

If you are a Nevada homeowner and you'd like a pine tree in your yard, just make sure you work with an expert to ensure you've considered all safety precautions. I can tell you from experience that the extra effort to have a pine tree in your yard is worth the benefits. Just make sure you have some sort of craft book on hand about what to do with all the pinecones you're going to collect.

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