The Gerlach Citizens Advisory Board voted unanimously to approve a letter of support asking the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy to consider Washoe County’s application to the Department of Energy’s Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership.

The letter, signed by Chair Tina Walters on behalf of the board, says Gerlach — described in the letter as a town of about 120 people, roughly half retired and located more than 100 miles from the nearest metropolitan area — experiences both summer and winter power outages that leave residents without electricity. The letter says the town’s local solar, wind and geothermal resources make it “uniquely suited to become a model” for renewable energy, storage and smart-grid technologies.

The board’s vice chair, Christy Evans, made the motion that Walters sign the letter and that Brian, Washoe County staff present at the meeting, submit the application. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Chair Tina Walters then signed the letter and said she would change the date and send it.

Brian, the county staff member participating in the meeting, described options under consideration if technical assistance is awarded. “There’s also the potential for a geothermal district heating microgrid. And, wouldn't it be great if we could do both?” he said, adding that an electric microgrid aligns most closely with how the DOE conceived the program and that the board should let technical advisers from NREL and DOE recommend priorities.

Public commenters expressed support and asked questions about scope. Carl Kovac thanked Brian and called the letter “part of the process we’re managing here.” A resident identified as Pete asked whether district geothermal systems could tie into the feasibility work; Brian said he would advocate for exploring both electric and geothermal options with NREL and DOE.

Resident Elizabeth Gabriel urged better coordination with the local Paiute tribal leadership on emergency services and said she is preparing an application to request meetings with tribal leaders to discuss ongoing fire-service arrangements. Gabriel said the Gerlach Fire District’s coverage reaches multiple outlying places and the reservation boundary and that improved neighbor-to-neighbor coordination is needed to make fire service work for the broader 5th District.

The board noted the application is due at the end of the month and that changes in federal administration could affect funding decisions; county staff said they had seen no definitive indication that the program is canceled and planned to submit the application on schedule. The board did not adopt any further formal direction beyond approving the letter and authorizing submission.

The approved letter was addressed to Kendall Jackson, subcontract administrator at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and cited prior work from a DOE Rural Energy Community Prize grant that provided research and feasibility findings for solar and geothermal microgrids in Gerlach.

The meeting then adjourned.