NV Energy Foundation Provides Major Boost to Tahoe Fund’s Forest Health Initiatives with $250,000 Grant
The NV Energy Foundation is making a major investment in the health of Tahoe’s forests with a $250,000 grant to the Tahoe Fund’s Smartest Forest Fund. This significant contribution will help increase the pace and scale of forest restoration efforts and better prepare Lake Tahoe communities for wildfire.
“In Lake Tahoe, catastrophic wildfire is not just a threat, it’s our reality,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Thanks to the NV Energy Foundation, we will be able to invest in more game-changing solutions and innovations to reduce excess fuels in our forests and better prepare them to withstand fire.”
The Smartest Forest Fund was launched in 2019 to use philanthropy to drive innovation through seed funding and de-risk opportunities for the Tahoe Fund’s public agency partners. Already, more than $1 million has been committed to over 25 projects and helped to secure over $27 million in public funding.
Innovative projects that have received funding through the Smartest Forest Fund include BurnBot’s remote operated machinery that speeds up fuels reduction by 10x; a software platform called LandTender that uses high-definition imagining and artificial intelligence to map landscapes for forest health treatments; and scholarships for students in Lake Tahoe Community College’s Forestry Program.
“This project will support the important work being done in and around Lake Tahoe to ensure the health of this incredible natural resource and protect the surrounding communities,” said NV Energy President and CEO Doug Cannon. “The Tahoe Fund drives outcomes in innovative, creative ways through collaboration and bringing the right partners to the table. I can’t think of a more deserving organization or better partner to collaborate with on this project.”
Top photo by Hannah Pence, HPM Photography
Ps. The Tahoe Fund “Smartest Forest Fund” has also funded this project: Kodama Systems – This year, the Tahoe Fund made its first-ever investment, joining Kodama Systems’ $5.95 million seed round alongside two environmentally-focused venture capital firms. Kodama’s mission is two-fold: 1) Automating forest health treatments, and 2) Creating high-value opportunities for wood utilization. We are excited to be a part of Kodama’s work, and believe it will change the game for the better. The Tahoe Fund’s early support of Kodama helped the company secure a $300,000 Cal Fire grant to retrofit key machinery for teleoperation.