Flying solar: Nellis Air Force base claims largest solar installation
I wrote a few weeks ago about a solar technology manufacturing facility being built in Las Vegas by Australian company Ausra. Now, it turns out that nearby Nellis Air Force Base has just completed the largest solar photovoltaic installation in the United States.
The array, which includes more than 72,000 solar panels, is supposed to provide Nellis with an estimated 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. That's roughly 25 percent of the electricity needed by the base, where about 12,000 people live. The installation was started in April, but apparently has been in the works on paper for about three years. It covers 140 acres and was built by the Air Force along with Sunpower Corp., Nevada Power Co. and MM Renewable Ventures.
Other stats worth parroting: The plant is supposed to save the Air Force about $1 million in utility costs per year and the estimated reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is about 24,000 tons.
Here's some more information from the base news service.