The NV Energy Foundation is investing heavily in maintaining the health of Lake Tahoe's forests with a $250,000 grant to the Lake Tahoe Foundation's Smartest Forest Fund. This generous donation will increase the pace and scale of reforestation efforts and help communities around Lake Tahoe better respond to wildfires.
“In Lake Tahoe, catastrophic wildfires aren't just a threat, they're a reality,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “The NV Energy Fund will enable us to further invest in breakthrough solutions and innovations that reduce excess fuels in our forests and help them better withstand fire.”
The Smartest Forest Fund was founded in 2019 to leverage philanthropy to spur innovation through seed capital and de-risk Tahoe Fund's public sector partners. It has already committed more than $1 million to over 25 projects and helped secure more than $27 million in public funding.
Innovative projects funded through the Smartest Forest Fund include BurnBot remote-operated machinery that reduces fuel use 10 times faster, a software platform called LandTender that uses high-resolution imaging and artificial intelligence to map landscapes for forest health management, and scholarships for students in Lake Tahoe Community College’s forestry program.
“This project supports the important work taking place in and around Lake Tahoe to ensure the health of this incredible natural resource and protect the surrounding area,” said Doug Cannon, president and CEO of NV Energy. “Tahoe Foundation achieves results in innovative and creative ways through collaboration and bringing in the right partners, and I can't think of a more appropriate organization or partner to collaborate with on this project.”
The NV Energy Foundation is committed to connecting with our communities through civic leadership, financial contributions, volunteerism and other philanthropic efforts. In doing so, we make our communities better places to live, work and do business. We measure success from the perspective of our employees, stakeholders, customers, business partners and neighbors. To learn more about the NV Energy Foundation's grant cycle and funding priorities, visit nvenergy.com/foundation.
To learn more about the Tahoe Fund, the Smartest Forest Fund and the work it has supported, visit www.tahoefund.org.
Photo: Hannah Pence, HPM Photography
