Roughly a year after its formation, the Nevada Green Business Network has a trio of new partners: Reno+Sparks Chamber of Commerce, City of Reno and Nevada Conservation League. The network’s mission is to work with Nevada businesses to reduce energy usage, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and the amount of water used during business operations. “The Chamber is one of our community’s leading advocates for the transition to a clean energy economy,” Ann Silver, CEO of the Reno+Sparks Chamber, said in a Nov. 30 press release announcing the news. “We are supporting the network by offering green business certification classes to educate our members on how to best implement business practices that can improve their bottom line.” Staked by a series of federal grants — including an initial $600,000 from the EPA in June 2019 — Western Nevada College and Northern Nevada-based nonprofit greenUP! partnered to launch the coalition in November 2020. The three new entities join six original partners: Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Incline Village General Improvement District, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Envirolution, GreenACTnv and GRN Vision. “Since the passage of the Pollution Prevention Act 30 years ago, industry, government and the public have been focused on reducing the amount of pollution through cost-effective changes in production, operation and raw materials use,” greenUP! Board President Donna Walden, founder and director of the Nevada Green Business Network, said in a 30 statement. “WNC, greenUP! and the program partners of the Nevada Green Business Network are committed to helping Nevada make strides in becoming a leader in sustainability.” The network’s launch came after greenUP! received a $160,000 grant in November 2020 from the EPA to support environmental education efforts, in addition to a $345,108 grant in September 2020 to both greenUP! and WNC to train manufacturers on safer chemical alternatives, water reduction and energy efficiency. “(WNC) welcomes our new partners who will contribute to the state’s climate action goals through pollution prevention and through implementation of best practices,” WNC Director of Professional and Applied Technology Georgia White said in a statement. “We are most grateful to EPA who provided funding for the program and to our partners who will accelerate this important work and enhance environmental performance in Nevada.” The network has set a goal to certify 75 businesses and manufacturers by 2022, providing assistance to a wide range of sectors and creating a comprehensive directory of green businesses on its “GreenBizTracker” database. GreenBizTracker is a web-based and mobile tool that measures the impact businesses are having toward resource conservation, pollution prevention and environmental protection goals. Once businesses are green-certified, they’re added to the database, accessible at nvgreenbusiness.org. “The City of Reno is pleased to help promote the statewide green business program to Reno businesses,” Suzanne Groneman, Sustainability Program Manager for the Reno City Manager’s Office, stated. “Recognizing sustainable business leaders in our community complements the City’s environmental education and outreach efforts.” According to the press release, the Nevada Conservation League’s role as partner will be identifying green businesses in Southern Nevada “that show interest in conservation and sustainability and provide them a platform to advocate for pro-conservation and business-friendly policies.”
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