LAS VEGAS, Mar. 24, 2015 –NV Energy executives, Nellis leaders, SunPower officials, utility regulators and local elected representatives gathered on Nellis Air Force Base to kick off the construction of a 15-megawatt solar project that will enable the base to run exclusively on renewable energy during daylight hours.
Named the Nellis Solar Array II, this $50 million project and new infrastructure will be owned by NV Energy. The solar project will be built by SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ;SPWR), a global provider of solar technology and energy services. The project, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2015, will create approximately 150 jobs during construction.
SunPower also designed and constructed the first solar project at Nellis Air Force Base, a 13.2-megawatt solar plant that has been operational since 2007.
Colonel Richard Boutwell, 99th Air Base Wing commander said, “We are proud of our work with renewable energy at Nellis. As the second major solar energy project here, this venture is especially gratifying. It is set to increase our energy independence and strengthen our system reliability.”
NV Energy’s Senior Vice President of Customer Operations Pat Egan noted that the Nellis Solar Array II project is significant to NV Energy, as it will be the first utility-scale solar resource owned and operated by the utility.
“This project represents a creative approach to helping Nellis Air Force Base meet its energy needs, and we are very pleased that this new substation and related electrical connections will enable us to provide even more reliable service to such an important Las Vegas-area customer.”
The Nellis Solar Array II project is being built over a closed landfill. At the site, workers will install SunPower Oasis™ Power Plant technology, which uses some of the most efficient panels on the market. These panels will be installed on single-axis trackers that align the panels with the movement of the sun throughout the day.
The new project will be electrically connected to a new nearby NV Energy substation that will be built on the base. This new substation also will serve to add an additional layer of redundancy to the base’s energy supply system.
About NV Energy, Inc.
NV Energy, Inc., provides a wide range of energy services to 1.3 million customers throughout Nevada and nearly 40 million tourists annually. NV Energy is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, do business as NV Energy. NV Energy is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Information about NV Energy is available on the company’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via nvenergy.com.
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