Let the Sun Shine

Development of the nation’s largest solar photovoltaic system, which has been under construction at Nellis AFB, Nev. since June, is complete, according to various news accounts. Base officials expect the government-private venture to save Nellis about $83,000 monthly, providing 25 percent of the base’s total power at a fixed rate for 20 years. Air Force, MMA Renewable Ventures, and Nevada Power Company officials expect the 140-acre, 14-megawatt system to produce 30 million kilowatt-hours annually for Nellis and NPC customers. In a briefing at the Pentagon last week, Air Force energy guru William Anderson said the service planned to replicate the Nellis “business model” to support new energy technology at other USAF bases. He said requests for proposals would go out “shortly” for facilities in Arizona, California, and New Mexico to develop similar commercially backed, constructed, owned, and operated projects, potentially larger than the one at Nellis.