Solar Records Dropping Like Flies
It's a good thing that the US is seriously ramping up its solar manufacturing capabilities, because the military is starting to get renewable religion.
Nellis Air Force base outside of Las Vegas has broken ground on the largest solar power system in North America. That's right ... your military might not be able to win the war against terrorism, but you can be comforted by knowing they have the smarts to install 70,000 (sun-tracking) solar panels over 140 acres of heretofore unused Nevada desert.
By the time the system is installed and pumping electric current to (likely thousands) of inverters, Nellis will be generating up to 25% of its electricity needs during the summer months. I shudder to think what a system like this will cost to install.
Comments
This is great news. The US military is the single greatest investor in technological innovation there is in the world. If they have caught renewable fever, then it is only a matter of time before it goes to regular consumers.
Posted by: Dave G | May 18, 2007 2:54 PM
Dave,
The USAF isn't actually paying for the solar power system ... this is the "solar outsourcing" model pioneered by companies like SunEdison and in action at WholeFoods, Staples and some other commercial sites.
The solar company owns the entire system and sells power back to the USAF at a locked-in rate.
So while it is a good step in the right direction, it's not as though the USAF is throwing millions at solar ... yet.
Posted by: tom c. | May 18, 2007 10:54 PM