Small Nevada town installs solar panels

Page Last Updated: Wednesday July 21, 2010 5:54am PDT

Nic Dunn MyNews4.com (Nixon, NV) - The small community of Nixon, Nevada is making use of alternative energy sources to power many of its buildings, according to an NV Energy press release. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe's high school, medical clinic and museum are all powered by seven photovoltaic solar arrays, which can generate up to 487,800 kilowatt hours of electricity per year; that's enough to power 54 households for a year. They will reduce the Tribe's annual electric bill by about $72,800.

On July 22, the Tribe will celebrate the completion of the solar array with a community barbecue, and they will also receive a $1,355,000 rebate from NV Energy's Solar Generations program to offset the cost of the 271 kilowatts of energy.

The array was installed by Black Rock Solar, a non-profit working to help spread the adoption of renewable energy.

Pyramid Lake Tribal Council Chairman Mervin Wright said that this new array will reduce costs, and give them the ability to provide more services in other areas.
"... language programs, our museum, parks and recreation and elder services. Those are areas we can focus on," Wright said.

Mary Simmons, vice president of external affairs for NV Energy, said that "The Solar Generations program is the result of a strong commitment by the Nevada Legislature and state utility regulators to make Nevada a leader in renewable energy." Simmons also said she is impressed with the efforts of Black Rock Solar, which makes solar energy available to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it.

Black Rock Solar said they have also been training tribal members to work in the renewable energy field. A total of 1,737 solar panels were installed, and the panels on top of the museum were constructed in the shape of an arrowhead.

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