Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Tesla signs letter promising to give $37.5 million for education

Tesla Special Session Sept. 11, 2014

Cathleen Allison / AP

Nevada Assemblyman Ira Hansen, R-Sparks, speaks on the Assembly floor during the second day of a special session at the Nevada Legislature on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, in Carson City.

Updated Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 | 3:46 p.m.

Tesla Special Session Sept. 11, 2014

Steve Hill, with the Governor's Office of Economic Development, second from right, answers questions on the Senate floor during the second day of a special session at the Nevada Legislature, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014,  in Carson City, Nev.  Lawmakers are  considering an unprecedented package of up to $1.3 billion in incentives to bring Tesla Motors' $5 billion battery factory to the state. Launch slideshow »

CARSON CITY — Tesla Motors Inc. has sent a letter to Gov. Brian Sandoval promising to give public schools in Nevada $37.5 million over five years.

The commitment letter was delivered to legislators today. Many lawmakers have complained that education is getting shortchanged in the $1.3 billion package of tax breaks proposed for Tesla, which plans to build a battery manufacturing plant in Storey County.

The contributions — $7.5 million a year — would start in July 2018 and be delivered to the state Department of Education.

Sandoval’s chief of staff, Mike Willden, said distribution of the money would be decided by Dale Erquiaga, state superintendent of public instruction.

The funds will be put toward science, technology, engineering and math programs.

The letter was signed by Diarmuid O’Connell, Tesla’s vice president of business and corporate development.

“We at Tesla are excited at the prospect of forming a partnership with Nevada’s K-12 public education system,” O’Connell said.

Dan Klaich, chancellor of the Nevada Higher System of Education, announced Wednesday that the system already is working with Tesla to determine what graduates will need to get jobs with the car company.

The donation was not included in the tax break bills being considered by lawmakers because the Legislature cannot require private companies to make contributions.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy