Early Tuesday morning a group of state dignitaries, energy officials and the Prime Minister of Italy took a tour of a renewable energy power plant east of Fallon.

Living in the shadows of the Sierra means geothermal energy is a big part of our lives in Northern Nevada. The annual meeting of the Resources Council and Geothermal Energy Association wrapped up Wednesday at the Peppermill Casino.

The state of Nevada has secured a grant from the federal government to develop geothermal energy technology and it could mean big money for the state.

The Energy Department has awarded grants to scientists in five states, including Nevada to develop research for a national lab aimed at tapping hard-to-get-to geothermal energy they say someday could provide enough power to supply 100 million homes.

Geothermal energy is a growing industry, with more plants going into Nevada's mostly untapped resource.